a friend brought me this black rock

we were never lovers although we

worried the possibility to death

he said he'd be King Auk

if i'd be mistress sloe-eye

and ready at the spot of our nursery

male penguins give treasure

to their future mates

he wanted me to have this one

now you bring the rock to bed for luck

we let it mean our pin-wings

itch to start a rookery where we

might birth such pieces of present and past

as this smooth basalt has