every stone has eyes

the end of the road
     the forest begins here
it’s time to enter the fire green    
                   and    svaha!

every stone has eyes
and a mouth with teeth
a forehead
a tuft of hair
sometimes even a tail

ask the little girl
who pointed them out to me
–venita’s daughter–
i believe her

i’ve had many handsome stones
      for friends
their breath is slow   deep    long  
            and gentle

‘they like being rubbed
on tummies!’

__
Salil Chaturvedi
salilwheels@gmail.com