Tributaries Are a Lot Like Snakes

Ahja Hawkins
I like to watch streams
flow into other streams
and those streams
flow into other streams
like I’m drunk.

I like to blame 
Eve,
that foolish girl,
for my misfortune.

For my lack of a 
doting husband, 
a praise-worthy child,
or even a pet to help pass time. 

For my stupidly puffy cheeks
that no man could love.

For my stringy hair
that makes me look
fifty
instead of twenty-five.

Why, 
I ask the streams,
why me?

Why do I have to
shoulder her blame?

Why me?

But the streams,
keep flowing into 
other streams

Again 
and again 
and again.