Coming straight in from the desert
to the dirty, tired and parched traveler
the water hole is a liquid wonder
surrounded by dryness and dunes.
His pace quickens. His eyes only see water
missing entirely the bleached bones
scattered about on the sandy verge
of those who drank here before.

She is beautiful without embellishments or artifice.
Like me, she is an unadulterated natural self.
Her merchant father sent her clad in haute couture
but she would look good in the horse's burlap nosh bag.
But, how like a beast I am, running on about her looks
when it is her instinctive calm and simple modesty
that both soothe and bind my heart. The magic
crystal ball might show me what our future holds,
but I prefer to blunder along now, living in the moment,
hoping that somehow she comes to realize that I am
more than this hair, these paws, my outsize body,
and find in me a kindred soul and loving heart.