Around Here

Around here, people stand by their cars
at the other end of parking lots
and merge with the general grey.
We judge the value of a man 
by the color of his silence
and women govern competently in SUVs.
We know that winter follows fall,
that spring is late and grudging,
and that summer ends;
but work is always there to save us.
We would all be driftwood, if there were enough,
things of wood and wire that have endured the sea,
but much of what we have is pebble,
which is also washed and serviceable,
so most of us make do
with stone.

October 22 2013