heat burns through soles of your shoes
drills even your hatted skull

the smooth round weight of time has slipped through a hole in your pocket
all past has become this moment —

now

            groups come to the river far below

elephants appear / toss water over backs / bounce diamonds off hides
baboons fan down the slope / males saunter / females browse / newborns hang on
vultures wade out
impala track lace trails to and back

when you are dizzy with heat
and shade is only a step away
can you stay in your weakness
abide the marvel of what you see?

your thirst may never go away
even the water in your bottle is hot
but this now  (forever and ever ) is what you have
drink deep

Poem by Jo Mariner / Photograph by Sion Edwards