Speaking in Stones
I
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
melted into tears.
II
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
turned to stone.
III
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
panicked and ran to
The Psychoanalyst.
IIIV
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
found a new stone—
a silent one.
V
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
said, “Are you serious?—
I am no Michelangelo!”
VI
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
smashed the stone
to bits.
VII
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
was deaf. The Stone’s
screams did not help.
VIII
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
confessed he was really
a painter. The Stone
said, “Paint me.”
IX
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The Sculptor
questioned the stone’s
imagination.
X
A stone
told The Sculptor
what it wished
to be. The sculptor
died trying.
* A version of this poem appeared in Montreal Serai
Until next time,
keep writing.
Peace,
Andrés Castro