You are born from granite

If you are born
from granite it is clear
you are made

to return. The snail trails
of your days pitch back
light when touched

by sun. Your skin
crackles with dying light
and everyone

can see the way the soft
parts of you begin to harden
to bone. Your hair greying.

Your hands freckling. Your
knees creaking as bloodless
branches being tested by load

of wind on limb. Lone, lone. Did you
know that even wood can turn
to bone, see the sycamore

bleach-bare and ancient
under the stone-numb hand
of winter- -even as inside

the timbered limbs life
prepares to go on

Author's Note

2021