Lift The Rock To Find The Life

 

A heart-shaped rock

lies face to the sun,

dusty pink and almost smooth,

its four chambers pumping with life.

The cloudy contours fit perfectly in your hand,

but it’s bigger than it looks.

It’s a plateau, an entire landscape,

a mountain.

The heart’s spring came long ago

when the earth was hot and bubbly.

At its genesis it was connected to the earth

by a cord of molten.

Finally it broke apart and freed itself,

Tearing off its gown like one of Rumi’s roses.

Broken lines circle like a crown:

little rock stretch marks and

earthquake smile lines.

Proof it had to crack a bit to form.

-Carrie Hamm