Dinah Hawken

Stone

After all, stones remember
the opening and closing of oceans
the thrust of volcanoes; they remember,
in their sediments, ancient creatures and trees,
rivers, lakes and glaciations.

After all
stone is the firmness
in the world. It offers landfall,
a hand-hold, reception. It is
a founding father with a mother-tongue.
You can hear it in the gravity
of your body. You can hear it
with the bones of your body.
You can hardly hear it.

See that line of coast...
See the ranges ranging...

they seem to be
saying

after you,
after you,

after all...

Author’s Note

Sources

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