the ghost of a lake

officially evaporated

it’s hard to believe,
as the rivers rise
and ice coats the land
in a layer of shining crystal,

that way down south,
a lake is dry,
as though the gods
had pursed their lips around a straw
and drawn it into them.

and on its empty bed,
the remnants of boats
and the skeletons
of fish and birds linger still,
the last memory of water,
azure blue.

it’s gone now,
evaporated into mist,
that falls in snow over my hometown,
the ghost of a lake
haunting the world.

line count: 20

news article: http://news.yahoo.com/lake-twice-size-los-angeles-evaporated-may-never-193602730...

Prompt for: Jan 23, 2016 ▶︎

Subject or Theme: In the news - write about something that is in the news this weekend.
Word(s) to Include: NO required words today!. (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): new/s, report, storm, terrorist, murder, death.(or any derivatives, compound or hyphenations of these words)
Additional Parameters: Include a link to the news item at the bottom of your poem. Must be at least 20 lines. Rhyming or not. Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or title or the brief description.