Hearts of Stone

Built up like skin,

an organic matrix

covering muscle

and bone, except

the muscle is gone

and the bone

is the metal

shifting gears,

making us walk

and talk and become

an acceptable form

for everyone we

hope to deceive.

But deep down

we can hear

grinding, surface

against surface,

dry and wearing

against the inner

frame of everything

we are.

And so what is this

life if not the final

test to see

if we can trust

You, not only

with our hearts,

but this false

self, the crushed

alloy, burned steel,

dust to the touch–

yearning for You

to heal and mend

and replace these

hearts of stone,

not always knowing

how detrimental

stone can be

in the first place?