At the American Well

Source Mouth

This is the source: Yes, of course.

a spring in Minnesota grass One must say what he has,

in Itasca Park, now. somehow.

Come, let us sit No, not all of it.

by the Mississippi. Passion I imagine a fine discretion

does what it does, helps sustain us,

ebbs and flows, even in those

even in old professionals fashionable confessionals

in their asperity. dripping with sincerity.

If the eyes hunt Well, yes, we want

dark thickets and vague fears, numerous anonymous ears

are they aware listening everywhere:

they are less able at the next table,

to join the double gloom in the adjoining room,

of their discrete following a street,

self and place? Drinking spying and thinking

these waters of one nation with an instinctive admiration,

one begins to see reserved and free.

what he is about. No, not without

There is always some history some ultimate mystery

which is half wise in their eyes.

with these blue All that is true

original springs, white to the great parabola, night,

with clear themes. and its circling dreams

What shines is curved lines;

is, yes, both free and dear no end is ever clear

and, in a way, true. to the long view.

Though waters spill Something in the will

upon these prodigal grounds keeps the involute sounds

in The Upper Midwest, in a silent West

they drift where they lift

downward thru soil and rock, our daily speech and talk

rise and flow south. from heart to mouth.