these rains are soft and
searching, long and
lurching with the need that
scrabbles
deepwithin my chest
for a toe-hold: one small crack
in which to place a finger-
nail but today my heart is obsidian
,smooth as glass,
and that precious, ancient,
spongey wisdom of Redwood is far
from my stony mind and anguished
spirit as i grit my teeth against
all the living, moving glory that could be

Love.

c. Mary Kathryn Gough
10/27/05 4.54 pm, edit: 17 Feb 8.57 pm