There’s a drop in the bucket
a drop of muddy water
dripping from a spigot
weathered, rusted over.
The bucket cannot fill
there’s a crack at its base
that sifts the muddy water
only dirt fills this place.
What’s clean is creeping out
escaping caking cup
watering grass below
it’s seeping out like blood
from a tear
a festered wound
a tear
from the eyes of youth.
Muddy bucket
empty stomach
waiting for someone
sweet innocent child
to pour you out
fill you with smiles.
There comes a time when life becomes complex, when the simple nature of childhood passes away and we are faced with difficulties. These difficulties come in many forms and there can be good brought about through them, but they take their toll on us regardless of how diligently we hold out. That seems to be the primary theme in this poem, conveyed through a rusted bucket sifting muddy water through a crack in its base. The water is purified by this process, meaning the dirt remains and clean water seeps out. While this is good—the water goes on to enrich the grass below—over time the bucket is filled with dirt. The bucket is given some personality throughout the poem and seems to desire to hold some of the clean water that escapes it. It waits for something innocent—a child—to come and pour it out.
This is the message of a tired soul, one doing all they can to stay good and positive throughout life’s sores but is filling with pain. I believe this is each of us at some time or other, and that we are often waiting for someone to pour us out. Who this is is somewhat more mystifying. Perhaps it is the simple good things of life, such as a child—innocent and blameless. Or perhaps it is a good friend that is able to support us through difficulties. Or perhaps it is something more, a guiding and supernatural heart, entirely blameless and able to not only pour us out but clean us as well. Whatever it is, it is there and will come eventually.
Hope Mixes
—The Translator
Comments