Айра Сэдофф. Размышления молодой женщины у озера

Reflection Of A Young Woman By A Like

Disease was spreading on the lawn.
In the house she occupied 
she was growing up to find the snails
and slugs sucking on the leaves; important 
to their survival was the death of what 
they loved. 
              And how, in the morning's chill,
it reminded her of a man she saw once
floating in the lake, not dead but passive 
in his acceptance of where the water took him
She was frightened, not ever knowing a man
who drifted so, whithout that drive 
that kept some from thinking of death 
or the force to love a stranger's life.

She watched him for hours, not desiring 
him but what he desired, that restfulness 
in motion, the ability to take in
whatever sun there was. Then he passed away 
from her sight,  she was left an image
of hopelessness,  how she'd have to move
from what she loved, continuously,  in and out
of the sight of others who passed their time 
with her - or gave the passing chance to leave
the world she lingered in, that luxury 
of leisure which made thoughts of future 
loss so wrong to think about, so hard to try.