Harkany Spa

Steam rises from the pools of mineral water,
the sky is winter bright, yellow butter sun.
No one swims, we wade through chest-high liquid,
washing away strain, the poisons of the week,
the aches of the decade, the pains of a lifetime.
We can stay sheltered in a domed room,
or slip through a plastic curtain, wading
under the sun, feel the breezes, talk quietly
with friends, feel the sulfur give ease.
We stay longer than the proscribed 20 minutes,
we could stay a life time at the spa.


C. Levenstein, January, 2001, Hungary