I wrote this in the mid-90s, I think.

A Reply to Thoreau

Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.

My mind is but the stream I go drowning in
and time is the bank of a stream
where fish eyes stare unmoving at the ravelling motion
of water catching at the banks of the stream.

I know mind is water, for it fills like breath
the body it carries till still.
And mute fish floating thoughtless before the flatness of death
know time from water, for their eyes remain still.