Lesmosyne

On an overcast day in hell

you and I had been resting

on the shores of the Lḗthē.

Suddenly you scooped up

a handful of its water

and offered me a drink of oblivion,

a cup of kindness.

You saw me hesitate

and wondered what I had to hold on to.

I was just surprised,

that’s all.

Don’t worry.

Thank you,

let me rinse away the bitterness.

One more stamp in my

Samsara merry-go-round ticket.

Enlightenment and

hard-earned–lessons

all over again.