Building blocks

Curtly drawn in by the eye
to the epicentre of fault – mine
the only way to counter tremors is to lavish
love, it seems, to build with sweat and tears
structures sturdier than the collective mind.
It requires some engineering
for which I am ill-equipped.

My mud child is collapsing
inching precariously away
from the bedrock. Poles and stakes
organic arms so carefully constructed
to counter quakes, giving in an instant, ripping
runnels through the landscape of the gut.
You and you and him and her
hurry to misshape his smile
huff and puff his spirit down, to build
none other than a house of stone.

Anamaría Crowe Serrano