12/4/91- Envy Of A Hand Of Stone

                                                    12/4/91
                                     Punta Del Este,Uruguay
                     
                  Envy  Of A Hand Of Stone
 
 
 
         To reach,white fingers scream infantile
         The grasp of gray fingers mute
         Not holding,waiting...stoic digits teach man
         To clench,a chance to hold nothing
         Relax and so much passes through
 
         Light of a new day makes its rounds
         Breath of the ancients speak words of desire
         Fine earth travels on phrases shouted
         Accents of brine change the path of a journey
         Man himself has come and gone
         From the palm of others to places unknown
 
         And as I stand the water surrounds me
         Wanting to hold what I can not have
         Seeing only what I share not with the others
         White knuckles burn blue nails together
         I wish to extort my hand open wide
         Is an opposable thumb a license to use it?
 
         My eyes caress the concrete tips
         I admire their will not to close and crush
         The ideal I've placed in the swirling sand;
 
         To reach and not to possess...
 
         To wait and not to expect...
 
         To touch and not to demand...
 
         To dream and never hang on.