Mortar by Susan Tepper

A tiny red flower

or maybe a leaf 

4 pronged—

size of my thumb nail

pokes through

a stone wall out back.

Coming apart

in places— the stones 

no longer neatly stacked 

for low walls,

but topsy-turvy, 

a soft aqua-green from

time and the elements

coloring mortar & rock.

Will time slip forward 

graciously, a tint of

same soft aqua-green

that brushes the stones  

naturally— without requests, 

without delay.

Susan Tepper is the author of nine published books of fiction and poetry.  Her most recent titles are CONFESS (poetry published by Cervena Barva Press, 2020) and the road novel WHAT DRIVES MEN (Wilderness House Press, 2019).  Tepper has received many honors and awards.  She’s a native  ) New Yorker.  www.susantepper.com