stones

like stones , washed and tossed

we walked the shoreline

sun,

     shade,

            wind,

                      trees

we gathered stones

laughing,

           and sighing

world silent

              waking to us there

in spring

we walked thru shadows

of storms to come

like stones, washed and tossed

we walked

             and melted away

                                               days

we waited for sunshine

caught in wind

          and dark company of clouds

snow,

      then rain

we sat

        like

stones

washing away

in the mist

we walked and talked

                                             sitting

we walked up to the veil

slim

sheer

fabric of dream,

of life,

of lost relatives

                        of seas

                              never crossed in this imagining

we washed ourselves away

like stones

             washed by sea

and storm

                 tossed

to the edge of something real

and pure

we walked in the giant

roar of surf

              of stones

                       tossed, chattering back

down slopes

waves retreated

                in foamy stealth

apologizing,

           denying the next wave coming,

crashing

              against the

                             shoreline

we walked

gathering stones

                  tossed in storm surf,

the shoreline here

               the storms

                         from far away

we gathered stones

keepers of secrets

living,       

        silent

we wished

for their stony,      

                 secret         

                      stillness

in pockets

      in hands

              on shelves

                      in drawers

and shoes

we learned the weight of

stones

the stillness of

stones

stolen from

the rocky shoreline

               sparkling wet

at

high tide

                            stones