Etched in Stone

Contest: This or That, Vol 30 – 2-4-25 Sponsor: Edward Ibeh - Title Chosen: Etched in Stone ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Etched in Stone Two hearts glare at each other Clutching their stone tablets Written by the finger of their rightness, Guarding the secret handshake In single sighted delinquent tantrums Refusing to share the offertory Of a loving cup - Consumed by daggers of thoughtless words Carved deeply in a scarred heart. Floral offerings wilt Upon stone manifestos Where ashes of incense lay impotent To clear the air And wipe clean the embedded words. Passion falls in pixels of distortion Blurring valleys where sacred poles burn – Lie in dust written in the past – Paralyzed Unable to rise from handwritten crypts Placed in captive marble altars, Epithets like an epitaph for love. Immoveable stone resists the transcendent Until forgiveness’ chisel Re-writes the script of etched words Crumbling in swaddled tears of humility That know their need for grace Consummated in love’s perfect signature.