It plops into the water, br A monster, br As the steam snaking from the bath br Creates for me a vivid mirage of emotions. br I see anger shudder beneath br The skin of the thing like the br Quake of ripples that own the surface br Of a lake during a summer storm. br Anguish screams in its eyes br Like that of a deer, br Uneducated about the properties of water in winter, br That dares to hop out on that iced lake br Thinking that it's safe until it finds itself br Breaking through to an encounter with death br And the bubbling beneath the ice. br Waves and waves of emotion pass over br The Monster's face as it bathes and I drink them in. br When the heat and steam subside and the monster rises, br I recognize him. br I peak into the bath to see what's left being sucked down the drain, br But a little love remains to help me clean another one of his messes.