By the X fan
Date: 7 September 1999

the fountain of youth

Like a man 
 in a desert
I find your oasis, 
but it is protected by a gate 
and a lone hooded  sentry. 
I approach and he stands at attention, 
as though he were being 
inspected by a general. 
I inquire as to  gaining entrance 
but he stays silent. 
The magic word? 
The gates part slightly, 
but enough for me to see in. 
A flowing spring!
I now know how Ali Baba
felt when he said "Open Sesame"! 
 Where this Water comes 
from I  do not know, 
but it flows freely,
I sneak past the gates
and  lap at the stream, 
 drinking greedily 
I proceed past the gates 
to  reach the inner cave,
from  where the stream began. 
I feel slight tremor --
does danger approach?
I continued to  explore the cave 
and after each tremor the water flowed vigorously. 
I truly had found the Fountain of Youth 
and have no intention of 
sharing my new found discovery...