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Millstone

At the heart of the gristmill in common 
is the millstone: 
A matched pair of matched round stones, one over the other.
Below is a bed-stone base, abeyant and prone
Above is the runner whetstone,
honed to grind grain 
to grist fine flour.
The bed-stone 'tis convex, 
the runner stone 'tis concave,
together they form a grasp cup of hands
channeling the ground grist
out as grain is crushed
and ground to powder flour.
The power of the gristmill
is a treadmill water wheel.
Water in common, 
driving a gristmill in common,
to the tragedy of the commons.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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