You said to remember
so I ground–chipped–hammered
a monument in stone
to reveal the beautiful truth of you.
You saw
the deep lines around your wise eyes
gnarled and swollen knuckles of your tender hands
sagging breasts that fed your children.
When every flaw
real or imagined
has been chiseled away
I am left with dust and my love of you.
© 2006 Patricia Jones