Have you ever walked to the edge of a lake
and placed a drop of tea
and a crumb of scone
at the water’s edge
and asked the serpent who lives
at the bottom
a question you’d been dying to know
Have you ever lifted the water like a blanket
and slid under it
in search of the kind of wisdom that can only be found in clouds
and deep, cool silt
left undisturbed for years
Have you ever walked to the edge of the lake
and thrown copper pennies and salty crumbs at the ducks
in hopes that your wishes will come true
Or do you go to the water’s edge
bursting with the dream that fairytales are real
and leave your offering and ask your question
and wait
and wait
and wait
until your knees feel stiff
and your toes get cold
and the only answer you find
is the embarrassment waiting in the passenger’s seat when you return to your car