! The Lake, The Fountain

by the lake so still so calm sky-blue cloud-white more sky than water this autumn day the air so still above there a tree leans over the water as if in thanks and here a gathering of stones awaits the offhand lapping of the wavelets bringing out the many colours of the stones that remember mountains edging the horizon with light and shadow through the day over there a fountain plashes over worn carved stone fed by a mountain waterfall wild fountain tamed throwing up a million new-mined diamonds droplets sparkling like a chandelier the sun catches turning air and water into unceasing dance of somehow joy the still lake the dancing fountain telling with water two stories stillness in joy joy in stillness as two white-robed nuns who whisper laughing laughing whisper in the cool of the evening beside the fountain before prayer and holy silence