When Stones Awaken

the girl found river stones

colored like sunshine, clouds, and tears

she held them to her ear and heard

unborn spirits rattle inside

mostly petrified after millions of years

within earth's embryonic fluid

she nested the stones within her palm

whispered about lusciously smooth

salted caramel yogurt

freckled with white chocolate chips

of the cruel girls in Mrs. Carson's class

who called her lardo and freak

and the cruelest thing of all--

that meteors that would soon smash into Earth

like during the dinosaurs' age

she pleaded with the stones

that maybe, just maybe

if the spirits inside woke up

they could help her save the world

even those awful, nasty girls

and that the spirits should know the glories

of frozen yogurt with chocolate chips

that they could all be the best of friends

within her fist

the stones stirred