Stone

forgotten pastures-
the gradual decline of
an old farmer’s wall
–
fieldstone-
grey lichens
untrodden

so many evenings
spent in stony solitude
with yet without you
–
rain etched stones-
the once neat path
overgrown

a dusting of snow
years of footfalls revealed in
the worn granite steps
–
an old slate roof-
heavy snow piles
up on the eaves

building my fortress
I bury my emotions
beneath the first stone
–
cacophony-
late night frogs
in my stone walls

in a farmer’s wall
amid the moss and loose stones
frogs sing in the night
–
crickets-
rain traces
stone to stone

a taste of freedom-
locked within a castle mount
above the meadows
–
afternoon heat-
careful hands
fitting stone