she said
you must harden
what is stone
protect it
from heat, from wind
from sun, from spring
one rock, chipped off
one side of a wing
my marble sins
all sculpture
a headless smile
staring down
empty corridors
my brain tags along
behind you
limply
she said
how you harden
what is stone
once you’ve captured
a moment
you must amputate the limbs
both featherless bird and
toothless predator
are gnawing on ash
in lust they
gum and peck at
old statuary
my stone is
polychrome
broken down
to colorless sediment
