I searched for the river to slake desperate thirst
I thought it was somewhere around here
I thought I smelled water but I remained cursed
every turn brought simply more tears
I toiled through the scrub on my knees as a first 
I soon began to smell fear
the dry of my throat and my eyes were the worst
but I still felt there was water around here

my effort was flagging my heart fit to burst
lost I scrambled and crawled for life dear
then I heard a tinkle with cracked lips pursed
I stopped to listen and peer
was I tricked, in illusion immersed?

no, there 
a gleam through the woods did appear
and I rose and I ran and the wild things dispersed
as I charged and leapt logs like a deer
all the pain and the doubt that I had nursed
vanished like fog from a weir
disappeared in that moment I felt myself blessed
I found water deep, cool and clear
and I dived right in, water up to my chin
I drank and rejoiced in the swim
and I swore in that water
that life giving elixir 
no wrong would I e’er do again