On a trip to the Yucatan.

Prayer for a Swim

Let us descend, and leave the sun behind, for Xibalba.

Let us lower ourselves with rope, down crumbling earth,

Underneath the girl selling panuelitos para quitar el calor.

Let us leave our clothes somewhere in the dark of Ox Bel Ha,

With lungs filling and fainting to swim in its cleansing waters

Let us swim to the stalactite, and out around, where we wonder

If we shall return.  Where we forget dimensions of living room. 

Where we touch its grainy wet:  hanging, Herculean.  Let us swim

In the dark, alive to threat of drowning, with moans of Chac Mool.

Let us swim with the dark fish, churning our naked legs,

Their whiskers long, curious to our curves.  Let us swim,

To the sunbeam falling from where roots dangle generously,

Long like your hair, arrayed in motion in the waters.  Let us swim,

Past the muds, in the pure deep waters black, above silver long-sunken,

Jewels and feathered garments cast, considered by the ancient fish.

Fish with names los Maya knew.  Fish that swam together too.

Oh, Kukulcan of Quintana Roo!  Let us swim your black anew.