The equilibrium of any particular aspect of nature rests on the equivalence of its opposites.

-Piet Mondrian

Some land lives

so water can comb

it into grids. This

is why lowlands

tilt still toward

the sea. This so

we call our canal

leaning horse,

hat tempting wind,

somewhere a tear

in linen where

the loom bent

a heddle. We plant

lapis in the middle

of begonia boxes

hung from our

houseboat's sills.

At night the eels

snug against

our houseboat's hum,

water's warm hem.

We hear them slip

itch into our floor.

Our houseboat lilts

when the bigger boats

slide us waves.

Our concrete floats.

We're mostly moored

to stay. ...