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 

To attract 
one must 
burn but 
not rage 
warm rather 
than heat
crackle and 
not roar
be the 
same that
would attract 
you for
you too
are they