Deserted Water Slide

You grumble. You use us. You
Shape us to say that the world
Has meaning only in its

Effects on us. By us, you
Mean you, not us. Long before
Any of you made servants

And chattel out of any
Others of you, you vested
Your power in control of us.

Oh, let it slide. None of you
Is talking with or through us
Right now, given no one is

Is talking to you either.
It’s so peaceful to be words
Where no one has anything

To say. We slip off for our
Servants’ holiday. Gathered
By a small watering hole,

Somewhere where no speakers are,
We listen to passing trucks
While wordless birds sing near us.