Phibby Venable
USA

Blue Stone Mine in Carolina 

now when the blue sun shines on flagstones 
and the heat of summer wavers on stone 
and the pale milksop of sheaves 
or when it rains, and all that glistens is blue 
and the earth gives way softly to rain, 
i remember the smooth plucking, 
the blue stone miners of carolina, 
i watched them down soft, dirt roads -- 
all the rough pulling, the unloading, 
the saws moving, the sleek rock, 
the massive stone riding truck beds 
into the civilized blue for garden paths 
and home decoration -- and i remember 
my childhood of rough rock quarries 
and copperhead snakes 
and long cattails in black water 
when the rock was untamed 
and the wildflowers slept 
like hermits in the sun 
beneath the rain, 
the wildflowers, 
so strong, so deeply hidden 
and i could hear 
the shrill scream 
of saw against stone