If I Were

If I were the grain in the ear
you would be the mill and grind me down
or a pebble in the sea
you would be the wave and wash me down
or the stone of the grave
you would be the moss and melt me down:
you are the mill and the wave
you are the moss and the sun
and I am ground and worn and broken
and melted.

If I were the sweat of the brow
you would be the hand and fling me away
or the troublesome lace
you would be the finger and pull me away
or the challenge to the sameness
you would be the thought and put me away
or the cause of it all
you would be the mind and laugh me away:
you are the hand and the finger
you are the thought and the mind
and I am flung and put and pulled
and laughed.

-- ? 1991