is smooth, cold stone,
i rolled away to the edge and my fingers slowly turned
like a tree slowly fossilized under layers of soil
floating, rippling cotton is allusion only
this is the artisan's work
carved edges, smooth, curved, embossed
this bed
will endure, marble base
does it look like life?
this cold marble
i recline
forever
rolled to the far side
draped by stone, finely chiseled
smooth angle of the spine, shaped
etched, the emotion, expression on my face
etched forever
impossibly still
could i even turn to see him
across
on the far side
stone image of a man
there he is hand clasped to head
sinews of his shoulders pronounced
frozen
every muscle carved with glorious precision
impenetrable
the tension of the scene
an everlasting memorial
this bed, carved out of stone
bearing the figure of a woman
and a man on the opposite side
