Ancient Rock
Saint Paul, 15 September 2003
A sacred lithology covers
The archetypal marks
Of whence we came.
Our forebears lay fallow
In crevasses and throats
Of road-cut rains.
Deposits of myths echo
On warm respiring pelts
Coarse transcriptions wait.
Vast wreaths of homage cover
Few repeated symbols
Over burnished slate.
An ancient rock depicts us
In piercing fine whispers
Of primitive waters.
Red dye of minerals call
In the deep curves and gestures
Of fertile daughters.