Chimneys • house & garden

	Tapered, Snotted, brick chimney with marble inlay. Berkshires 1996

Stonemason         

A chaulk line lives for a chisel to find,

         and powders out

like scattered moonlight on the sound.

I live where my stones touch,

         eye pushing hand,

through time’s haul.

Turning the tumblers of time,

         rock fitted against rock.

Secret matching secret in the lock.

Each stone awake

         in the wet mortar.

The slightest tap can plumb the world.

Scribe. Score. Split. Set.

         With the last heave of day,

the sun trowels my shadow into this wall.