by Howard Hain

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Murillo, “Christ on the Cross”, (1660-70) (detail)

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some were stones

others rocks

the difference

i’m not quite sure

though both are heavy

so many distinctions

almost all

humanly made

yet not even

a single

grain of sand

is created by man

perhaps then

stones are former rocks

those chosen to enforce

worldly power

perhaps they’re earthly kingdoms

established by men

men possessing

such domain

perhaps they’re the ones

reigning down

upon those brought low

upon those dragged

outside the walls

hauled off to a yard

to be stoned

yet both

both stone, and rock

seem to get along

as long as they’re simply left alone

call to mind

that famous pile

that most famous pile of stone

the one upon which

we crucified our Rock

to some it’s golgotha

to others it’s calvary

to too many

it’s a giant farce

but oh those stones

oh they don’t…