The Ancient Stone Forest

The rushing rivers falling fast With fury born on high, Cut deeply into ages past Where fossil forests lie. Their life and death transformed to stone Yet titan trees are proud To lie together yet alone; A stone-honed silent shroud. The arthropods like trilobites Once flourished until fate Sent them to depths devoid of light As salt beds turned to slate. Today they stay with limb and root, Their pose a righteous crown; Pre-cambrian volcanic soot Would mark trees soon to drown. Illusion of great time will flee When first one's gaze is cast Upon eternal eulogy To whispered grandeur past. As trees of stone succumbed to sea No human soul was there To witness somber majesty Become majestic prayer. A primal wisdom speaks from youth To minds that realign Their comfort with the blended truth Hard bound inside this shrine.