cistern · 04 · iron, lichened
a ladder
iron, dropped here a hundred and twelve years ago to mend a leak that did not need mending. the lichen has decided. eleven rungs above the line; the rest the water has agreed to keep.
the third rung from the top is loose. the seventh wears a small green coat. there is no record of anyone reaching the bottom.
field-note · cold so far up the arm that the hand forgets why it is here.