A Stone is a Riddle
April 17, 2012
Stone
by Charles Simic
Go inside a stone
That would be my way.
Let somebody else become a dove
Or gnash with a tiger’s tooth.
I am happy to be a stone.
From the outside the stone is a riddle:
No one knows how to answer it.
Yet within, it must be cool and quiet
Even though a cow steps on it full weight,
Even though a child throws it in a river;
The stone sinks, slow, unperturbed
To the river bottom
Where the fishes come to knock on it
And listen.
I have seen sparks fly out
When two stones are rubbed,
So perhaps it is not dark inside after all;
Perhaps there is a moon shining
From somewhere, as though behind a hill —
Just enough light to make out
The strange writings, the star charts
On the inner walls.
You can hear Simic read this poem at Poetry Everywhere.
April 17, 2012 at 8:10 am
Wow, what an unusual stone. I too pick up stones (is there a difference between stones and rocks) when I find one that catches my eye
April 17, 2012 at 1:27 pm
once was a quartzite seam, now tells a story.
April 17, 2012 at 4:43 pm
I love it!! I really like working with granite. I’ve faceted it!