Rock-Hewn Flowers Of Heaven Poem by Sarah Mkhonza

I am speaking to the rock-hewn flowers of heaven;
I have a message that is about staying solid
And never breaking down even if the heat gets you.
Even when the fires of life are lit right under the feet
These flowers do not break even when they expand.

They open every morning and speak the word true
For they know they are the mouthpiece of heaven
Their message does not change with the weather
For so strong is the tincture of their colors.

I speak of rock-hewn flowers from another place
That do the usual in unusual ways that shape things
And cast them strong and hard for they are molded
By these hard performers of a kind that appeal
To the ears of others like it is the first time
For them to hear such words as the ones they speak.

So rare are these flowers that everybody wants them
For owning them is bringing a bit of heaven right
To the doorstep of your house with a series of scoops
Like the ones we repeat when we get to taste our
Choice of ice cream on a hot summer day.

We fall into despair when one of them falls and cracks
For to get another one, one has to travel to the end
Of the world only to be told there is none like another.
Returning back to a reality of losing a gem is never
Something people can deal with easily. Yet to keep
Safe what they have and admire it by turning it
Round and round, is taken for granted for boredom
Is the sin that the god of time left the world with
When he escaped to the land of the northern lights.

They do not feign status these rock-hewn flowers
For they came with it wired into their being
For the world knows what it needs and can call for it,
In one way or another to the disappointment of saints,
For they think they are the only ones who came from
The land that is called heaven with a message that
Leaves the world shaking on its knees.

When normal roses boast about the beauty of their petals
These flowers look on with love for they can take
Competition from a look alike that fakes pride
When the ego is singing the tune of self esteem
That is weaker than the chamomile tea without honey.
They tell the roses to mind their step for it is
Embarrassing to trip and lose one's balance in front
of a self-made enemy

They carry their heads high for to see one is to
See another yet the inbuilt beauty of each shines
Brighter for everyone to see even in the dark.
They lighten places and cause things to sparkle
Till the dogs wonder why the world is becoming
A never never land for they fear there will be
No room for a dog house, let alone the dog itself.

The assurance of the magic wand of making dog houses
By the minute assures these lonesome creatures who
Fear being separated from their owners, and ends the whines.
They gets everybody knowing that dog and man equal
Love always for when the rock-hewn rose buys a leash
It makes it so long that is can reach the heavens.