Being Handed a Rock

My friends and I have this meme

we pass each other rocks

Sometimes it’s the same one

we keep them in our pockets

Sometimes we pick up new ones

we’ve found on the street

Occasionally they have wings

or they’re hard to move like boulders

When apart they’re virtual

a rock emoji

In conversation, metaphorical

a reminder of what is

To us the rocks have value

we never pass them too often

but too often we find ourselves searching everywhere

but under our noses

Sometimes I forget about the rocks

like when my hands are full of groceries

or when my mother asks a favor

I’ll even turn rocks over in the garden

planting, mulching, watering,

and all I’ll see are hornets

But just when I forget

our drama’s real, life ending

We pass each other rocks

a place to stand when mending

–

Dedicated to R.B.