Eber Hopper
He was coming at noon to show me
where to sink the well
I read everything I could about water tables
rainfall, soil, stone, and rock
So many books to read
It was my need to know
To be less ignorant of the process
But when he came to the farm
and the spot near the barn
there was no time to talk about
the pros and cons of divining rods
No time to discuss spiritualism and salvation
No time to get up a membership in a new cult
He just reached for his forked stick
nodded as it shook him
as it shook me
and found water
___________________
Joe Napora
Upon the Objects of Our Memory
BullHead Books, 2024
509 North Main Street
Piqua, Ohio 45653
