Then there's times
in our deeply digging
submerged so far that
the domes of our heads arise
from our self proclaimed tunnels
only enough to furrow the earth's surface
like Bugs Bunny
we take a wrong turn at Tucumcari

The rivers of ourselves
not to connect up with bigger rivers
or form deltas or gulfs or well known tides
once we gain the boundless ocean

But manifest as something closer
to the Mighty Okavango
flowing off into the Namib Desert
finally engulfed by surrounding sands

Where just before fading into that wasteland
a jungle oasis crops up
supportive of hippopotami, rhinoceros, babboons,
crocodiles, fish in the middle of the desert
the only elephants for a thousand miles

Also by W. Joe Hoppe What Are You Doing This Saturday Night? -->

W.JOE HOPPE is a full time dad (to Max, b. 5/29/95)and part time community college teacher in Austin, Texas. With the help of his wife, P.S. Monear, he has published numerous chapbooks under the Lucky Tiger Press imprimatur. His web page is here.

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