command the stones in a loud voice
or speak to them
just to the left of silence
or sing to them a love song in Spanish
they will not respond

write a letter
in it confess all your sins
place it under a stone
leave it there for months
and when you return you will find
your letter unopened and unread

stones have a sense of dignity
greater than that of kings
a sense of honor
stronger than that of friends

stones are fulfilled like prophecy
tendentious as rain
and have a sense of humor
more subtle than we can comprehend

it takes a long time to amuse a stone
first you must capture one
carry it away
imprison it with mortar in a wall
the stone will not complain

then you must wait
and years after you are gone
under another stone on which
some stranger carved your name
the mortar in your wall will crumble
and the stone you captured
will fall to the ground
amused and free and going home

--Richard Shelton