down the double-helix stairway underneath the killing sky bed of roaches creeping carpet give me water or I'll die give me water, cool nightwater from the sea-pools of your eyyes give me water, sweet nightwater give me water or I'll die down the sluices of oblivion drain a reservoir of thirst shooting stars like stock-car headlights flash and flicker flare and burst and the children of the hydra-born of beetle blood and dung dance like dervishes in sulphur on the ashes of my tongue am I falling, am I walking? is the universe run dry? give me water, sweet nightwater give me water or I'll die let it thunder if i'm angry when i'm thirsty let it rain give me water sweet nightwater let me hear your voice again give me water, cool nightwater from the sea-pools of your eyes give me water, sweet nightwater give me water or I'll die downstream at a burning ghat beside the river's rim a leper slipped into the flood and taught the tide to swim the waves were full of radios static on the ether the corpse snagged on a hyacinth they floated down together and the children of the hydra-born of beetle blood and dung dance like dervishes in sulphur on the ashes of my tongue am i falling, am I walking? is the universe run dry? give me water, sweet nightwater give me water or I'll die give me water, cool nightwater from the sea-pools of your eyes give me water, sweet nightwater give me water or I'll die