Mining For Diamonds

It feels good

to release

Even in its

smallest measure

Like mining

for a diamond

One piece of earth

at a time

The struggle

is strong

and burdensome

Weakness

will sometimes prevail

You'll often feel

undone and spent

Begging to dig

no more

Barely scratching

the surface

before it feels

you've already dug

too deep

No ladder seems

long enough

or strong enough

to stable you 

to ever climb out

Moments of rest

are needed 

to gather the strength

you know you'll need

to begin again

-August 2016

The Echo Through The Grain

There's the door

I can touch

its surface

Feel the thick

sturdiness

of the grain

I feel

But there's no knob

to turn

or twist

Just a seam

around the edges

too thin

for prying

A small

single keyhole

offers a glimpse

of what lies

on the other side

I peer

with one 

squinting eye

as I rest

one knee

on the rocks

beneath my feet

Hands shaking

and sweaty

I rest them
against the door

for balance

Place my ear

to the wood

and listen

to the beat

of my own heart

echoing

through the grain

-January 2016