A Parable Poem by Gregory Orr

The stone strikes the body, because
that is what stones will do.
The wound opens after the stone's kiss,
too late to swallow the stone.
The wound and the stone become lovers.
The wound owes its life to the stone
and sings the stone's praises.
The stone is moved. At the stone's center,
A red hollow aches to touch the wound.
The gray walls of its body tear open

and the wound enters to dwell there.
A stranger picks up the stone
with the wound inside and carries it
with him until he dies.