A Talking Rock Poem by Mark Bratlie

You think you know it all
as you stand there
like a goddamn talking rock

Do you ever realize
that in the end
water lays waste the rock?

Does it ever occur to you
that people would often rather
sit on the grass?

For crying out loud
don't you ever have a doubt
and look with questioning eyes
into another's face
without knowing in advance
exactly what it is you wish
to come back at you?

And do you never see
that there are many things
that a rock is not good for?

Can I secure a mast to my ship
with a piece of rock?
Do I tie a rock on top of my head
in order to keep off the sun?
And supposing I do get burned
can I soothe the hurt
by rubbing on a handful of rock?
And do you really think
I would choose to build that ship
by hollowing out a boulder?

Look, I know you don't wear
socks made of sand
Still, you think you know it all
as you stand there
like a goddamn talking rock