The Stones Under My Feet Poem by RIC BASTASA

sometimes the stones amaze me
as i tread upon them
they hurt and they look at me
as though asking questions

what is it that hurts you most?
i like to answer but they are all too numb i think
to understand any word that i say

sometimes i like to hurt them in retaliation
but i know i wouldn't work
there is no way that they will say they get hurt
there is nowhere
where i can hurt any stone that i throw to the sea

a stone is gone but not forever
as though it has its own feet and comes back to me
asking the question again: what is it that hurts you most?

i know this vengeance
there is no way that i will tell them
my secret too is like a stone and it will come back to you
without any word, still, silent, sagacious.