Watermaid ii By Christopher Okigbo

Watermaid ii

By

Christopher Okigbo

Bright

with the armpit-dazzle of a lioness, 

she answers,

wearing white light about her;

and the waves escort her, 

my lioness, 

crowned with moonlight.

So brief her presence- 

match-flare in wind's breath- 

so brief with mirrors around me.

Downward... 

the waves distil her: 

gold crop sinking ungathered.

Watermaid of the salt emptiness, 

grown are the ears of the secret.