Round rock

I am a round rock

Laying in a river bed

Many days I tumbled

The ice and sand-my home,

I cracked Against others like me-

Wayward, heavy, stones.

Pushed without cease

I suffered the rivers errant way,

Thrown without mercy

My edges were all shorn away.

Every corner - ground to nothing

Wondering what next could be in store,

Every cracked appendage

Wore me down a little more.

I knew myself to be shrinking,

And As I became smaller

I buckled down and I tightened my belt

but I loosened up my collar.

I am a round rock

Laying in a river bed

Countless angry, thrashing waves

Have crashed upon my head

The under tow picks at my feet-

Inviting me to sink-

Her embrace is tempting,

But the current denies me peace.

If I am smooth

It is because the rough was beaten from me

My prickling skin, battered down

But I am smooth because I fought back

And I refused to drown.

I am a round rock

Laying in a river bed

There is always something left to polish,

I have not seen the rivers end.

But when I reach that delta fan

I'll be smooth

And small

And perfect

Finally allowed some peace

Laying in its quiet sand.