Water on the Mercury Fountain by Sophie Levine

I don’t care for golden Hermes 

aloft, adept with 

glory, gifts 

rising tall with sculpted confidence

from an etched pedestal

Rather,

I like to see the water 

streaming endlessly

along polished bottom sphere

and drip in scattered ribbons

from the waterworn ledge

I like to watch the droplets 

plunge with clumsy grace

into waiting pond below

then leap back up

as molten tentacles 

the concentric ripples always

flowing 

lapping 

disappearing

as if they know how 

significant 

their insignificance 

is