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Lord, am I tired this morning. In the midst of all the insanity, always good to go for something beautiful. Beauty heals. Here is my humble offering this morning. I sang it with my nephew at the Poetry Project New Year Marathon, and you can hear it in the Vimeo below. Enjoy.
The Water’s Work Song
My love, I would tarry
awhile on your mouth
To lie here beside you
is all that I want
but if I don’t go build
a house in the lane
we will freeze when it snows
and sneeze when it rains
A house you can make
with much thought and sweat
To make a handshake
is much harder yet
And much harder still
is to live till you’re dead
but the hardest is giving
without wanting to get
I took my noon rest
by a mountain stream
and watched how the water
touches all things
as it splashes down
among slippery stones
for frogs to jump in
and skin to shine on
Poured from my mouth
and rolled my eyes
for birds who leave
no trace in the sky
for Sir Rattlesnake
crawling alone
and the winter weary
foaling doe
© 2026 Don Yorty. All rights reserved.