Stone by stone 
rock by rock 
I have built 
once a bench
then a ledge 
now a wall 
leaving it behind 
walls are meant 
prisoners behind them 
certainly are not 
onto my freedom 
a place where 
such things aren’t 

Some people 
are put
to change 
like stones
in shoes
giving pause 
funny how it’s 
the littlest things 

I don’t know 
is the truest 
phrase in English 
followed closely by 
neither do you 

Now no longer 
new and not 
even for sale
I find myself 
on the shelf 
of some room
marked previously owned 
scratch and dent 
free to anyone 
but I know 
I just know 
it’s in rooms
just like these
where forgotten masterpieces 
are often found 
here I’ll wait 
here I’ll stay 
until someone sees
me that way