“Heart of Stone” – Thinking About the Stone (4th day of National Poetry Month)
Heart of Stone
One of the miracles of Easter, it increasingly
seems to me, is that the stone
at the tomb was moved.
Stones
are heavy; they tend,
in stories of great import,
to be obstinate.
(Think of the re-roller of Sisyphus, the innumerable boulders
that hound Wiley Coyote, the uncaring pyramid of Aida.)
But this stone
was moved–
not with grunts and conniptions, chains tied
to a flatbed, crushed toes or blistering hands
(shaken in thin air to take away the
sting)–
I am not particularly devout. I am sometimes even
suspicious of religion (especially when
capitalized). But I’ve also been closed out
by death, my loves shut down, and know that if I were
a stone, the sorrow of each loss would crack me right
to the crystal, squeeze out sanded tears that would wash
the feet of any who came near, break
the heart of heart in me, turn shale to dust, till we
together, my loves and I, could mingle one more time.
No wonder the stone was moved, and yet,
yes, wonder.
The above, which I first called “Heart of Heart”, is my draft poem for the 4th day of National Poetry Month. (I am writing a draft poem a day this April, but refuse to call the exercise “Napowrimo”, as I just can’t stand the sound of that name.) It’s been a bit hard to come up with inspiration, especially since I am very busy with my “day job” right now, so what I’ve found useful is to look at draft poems done in prior year. This was based on an absolutely different draft poem written two years on the 4th day of April–it is pretty rough but, if you are interested, it can be found here.
Tags: Easter poem, manicddaily, miracle of easter poem, National Poetry MOnth 4th day poem, Poem about Stone Moved from Jesus's Tomb
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ManicDDaily 
April 5, 2012 at 5:34 am
A very moving poem. I (and my guess would be, most people) could easily relate to this, esp. the penultimate stanza:
the sorrow of each loss would crack me right
to the crystal, squeeze out sanded tears that would wash
the feet of any who came near.
Superb word-smithing.
April 5, 2012 at 6:06 am
Thanks so much, David. I’ve had a very busy couple of days and found it very hard to get this one together last night–it was taking a huge number of different directions! I finally opted for this one, which felt most compelling, at last, but there’s always a lot of insecurity when the writing’s like that.
April 5, 2012 at 10:33 am
big smiles…love this one…the play on the stone moved in the end and to your own breaking in the depth of feeling..i like…and the wiley Coyote ref too…smiles…
April 5, 2012 at 12:35 pm
I am sooo with you, both on the delicate tune of this, which is pretty damn good to be called a draft, and the napowoowoo or whatever it is. Cant. Abide, The Name. But I think it’s a very fruitful exercise to try to write a poem a day–it amazed me last year when I did it for the first time and I’m already behind this year but trying to stay at least at the treading water stage. To talk a little more about your poem–the metaphor is extremely rich, and you’ve just shown it enough, not too much, to make the reader make the connections without belaboring the point. (Also thanks for your helpful comment at my place, K.)
April 5, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Very nicely crafted! I enjoyed, especially the third stanza made for a great ending!
April 5, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Thanks so much.
April 5, 2012 at 6:14 pm
I love how this “rolls” out, building up to the end. Have to smile at that suspicion of religion with a capital letter! Wisdom in this one, Karin. As far as being busy, I’m on the edge of needing to take a blogging break. Can’t find time to write or market the book. I think there are moments we need to just back off.
April 5, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Thanks so much, Victoria. Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I am very pressed right now. Take care! K.
April 8, 2012 at 12:36 pm
you threw in a lot of different myths there
stripper limerick