— unpredictable thoughts

First among places
sus­cep­ti­ble to tres­pass
are mirage oases

whose grad­u­ated pools
and shaded grasses, palms
and speck­led fishes give
before the light­est pres­sure
and are wrecked.

For they live
only in the king­dom
of sus­pended wishes,
thrive only at our plea­sure
checked.

—Kay Ryan, 1997