Wall

Pebble over pebble,
circles placed by tiny fingers
in younger times,
cradled by a mother’s love.

Stone over stone,
thrown with abandon
in carefree youth,
bonded by luck.

Rock over rock
knocked into place
through tears and joy,
held by first love’s kisses.

Brick over brick,
carefully placed in neater rows
fashioned in the time of roses,
cemented by memory.

Boulder over boulder,
heaved into position
with anger and salt sorrow,
concreted by determination.

Plank over plank,
higgledy placed with artless abandon
the day before time stopped moving,
paling without nails.

So she built her escape,
keeping the past in its buckled vest,
the new in smoked glass jars,
wary of loss.