Gems

It is a diamond out there,
white below it hiding under shaft
and shank of the ring which holds it;
I could die a diamond, were it allowed.

It is an emerald out there,
small rock from an unknown jungle
held fast among prongs of a circle;
green and flawed, I could die as an emerald.

It is a ruby out there and would be more so
if I went out in it naked, my skin
underdressed — so not dressed at all —
ruby, I say; I could die a ruby.

No matter: I should have died
long ago, a gem alone — or perhaps
I’m the glint of this one
sparking something in that one?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
onward,
T