Water Breaks
Floods begin as a drop,
rain from upstream flowing–
overflowing–Breaks.
No control over Water’s
strength or where it wants to go.
Knock out soggy walls,
Strip muddy carpet,
Dig through disaster.
Survive.
Stronger.
Healthier.
Build again.
At birth, water breaks,
baptizes an infant wrapped
in woven cloth.
Mother bathes her son
in warm water, rubs his clean skin.
Tears break as a single drop
washing my face,
bathing me in warm water,
where he kisses me,
says, “I love you.”
This is all I need.
Margaret Simon, draft 2019
On Tuesday, I attended a mini writer’s retreat at the Teche Center for the Arts. Clare led us through brainstorming a list of water words. Then we circled ones that stood out to us or told a story. I wrote this poem draft. It’s still a work in progress. I wonder if it contains too much.
In 1979, my childhood home flooded. I was a senior in high school with so much more on my mind than loss and rebuilding. My mother was the stronghold. She handled an amazing amount of mess and muck and insurance claims. There is a story, a bigger story than this poem could contain. After 40 years, that disaster still influences me. Maybe it’s finally time to write about it.
Reflections on the Teche 
I suspect an entire book of poems could be written about water, and you’ve shown that with 4 succinct & powerful stanzas, opening up many thoughts for me, Margaret. It’s hard to imagine my home flooding, although as a teen I helped a family (kin by marriage) clean out their home. I still do remember after so many years, as you wrote that your memory has not faded. I love the picture accompanying that wonderful first line!
Wow….each stanza could break into an entire chapter. Such powerful images here. Each poem begins with a word, too. I love the idea of the little that begins the big….then the flood. You are really on to something with your poem and your experience and the writing surge from your retreat. Write….Margaret, write!
Wow! Three water poems in a row in the roundup! A flowing river of water poems!
That first stanza sounds like the beginning of your journey to write about the flood in your past.
I think dividing this poem into a water series isn’t a bad idea! The topic is so universal and reaches so many aspects of our lives.
I like the many metaphors of water you use in your poem Margaret. Water is both powerful and humbling at the same time. I look forward to reading on your flood experience in the future. I especially like this stanza:
“At birth, water breaks,
baptizes an infant wrapped
in woven cloth.
Mother bathes her son
in warm water, rubs his clean skin.”
I was struck by the varied images of water and breaking that your poems contains. water is both live-giving and destructive.