Deep Time

Further than thought,

the ephemeral husks of seashells

trace lineages forgotten,

time recorded in clays and tiny motes

spinning silently.

Cells become skeletons

and lophophores

spin in the current.

Sediments gather, fold, subduct

accrete and split

Images of convergence,

of land-growth and garnets.

The earth spins -

day to night to day -

prolific revolutions

defining evolutions:

beginnings and endings.

Stories drawn from rock-dreams

are ancient fables

passed from generation to genera

teasing,

and just within reach,

we breathe life into them

again.

Copyright 2001, Chris L. Schneider