Leap

One mountain has a shoulder
That suggests the broad shoulder
Of an athlete, or the back

Of an ox, or placid bull—
It’s forested stone, of course,
But it curves like smooth muscle,

And seems not just enduring
But strong. There’s no strength in rock.
Rock never needs strength. Rock is.

Stones just exist and wear down
Or heave when tectonics push.
It would be terrifying,

If stones could flex like muscles,
Bunch up like the crouched haunches
Of a lion preparing

To hurl the whole mountain range
In predatory pursuit
Of what? But you want it to.