April is National Poetry month, a time of celebration, where we are reminded of the power of our words. Words as weapons can slaughter the strongest of souls, while the soothing waters of words have the ability to smooth even the most rugged of stones. Poetry is the bridge we build through emotion, wisdom and truth, a way to better understand the world and create a universal unity through the common thread of inspiration.An old man close to deathholds in his hand, three stones.The first is a simple river stone,smooth and gray,its edges softened by the rolling waters.The second of quartz and agate is coarse in texture.The third stone, jarred loosefrom a rugged cliff is jagged and sharp, yet shiny and translucent in reflected light…A young boy running on the beachstops before the old man and the old man speaks…“My young friend, you have a lot of life to live.Do you know what that means?”“I think so.” The boy replies.“It means you must define the stone.” The old man confirms.He then takes the smooth river stone and places it in the young boy’s hand.Rolling the first stone in his palm, the boy observes…“Each of these stones are unique and molded by time…At first, this stone was jagged, with its edges sharp.”The old man explained, pointing to the small stone in the boy’s hand.“A stone’s texture can be softened to smoothby the taming rush of these waters.It takes time for stones to soften their edges, but even the largest, most rugged of stones can be polished soft.”The boy held out his hand and the old man places the second stone in the boy’s palm.“I see.” The boy said.“This second stone comes from a jagged cliff by the sea,but it has been abused by the crashing of waves.Over time, this stone has become rough and jagged, but my son, do not be the fool.”The old man cracks open the jagged rock against the smooth texture of the first stone.When the stone is cracked open a vibrant crystal center is revealed.“The most precious things are found in the most unexpected of places.” The old man places aside the first two stonesand picks up the third stone and continues.“This stone is beautiful and captivating,a little rough on the edges here and there,but when you take a closer look…Hold this stone up to the light, my son.”The boy raises the third stone to the sunand it shines, casting a prism onto the sand below the boy’s tan little feet.“Do you see?” The old man asked, smiling at the young boy.“Yes, I see.
There is something amazing within all things. This is a brilliant stone despite its jagged edges.” The boy replied with enlightened eyes.“Indeed. You must remember, sometimes beauty is not so obvious.
Do you see how this stone illuminates
the world around it?”The boy then gazed down at the stone in his palm. When the boy looked up again, the old man was goneand all that was left were stones on the beach…Apryl Skies © 2009-2012
~From A Song Beneath Silence
