the artist

i wrote my words upon the sea
she lapped them as my finger moved
swallowed them into her
i wrote my words upon the sand
and she came with her tides
wiping the slate of herself

i wrote my words upon glass
in reds and greens and blues
they came with bricks
i built a wall with the bricks and wrote
in letters ten feet high
they brought a wrecking ball

they locked me away
because i was a dangerous influence
on their children
i wrote my words inside my mind
where no one could see
etched with blood and fire

years passed
their children forgot me
their grandchildren released me
they asked me why

i wrote my words upon the sky
i wrote my words upon the stars
i wrote my words upon their hearts
and no one can take them away

12/2/00, 12/6/00