Rocky Hillsides
for Clifford Johnson

my desire is not for claws
for scuttling across the floors
of silent seas

I desire claws for scaling heights
or climbing out of down under
when I happen to slip
when I happen to fall back or fall in
or when the bottom falls in
and I fall through

I need claws to get to the surface
as well as to continue
to seek higher ground


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
10:19 a.m. 05.03.08