Uncut

Rocks, crystals,

lattices, lines,

hardness, lustre,

colour, structure.

Sedimentation,

Compression,

Composition,

Manifestation.

Drawing, sketching,

Carbon-dating,

Remote sensing,

Engineering.

A study in progress,

A passion for geology,

The test of mettle,

Of rocks and minds.

In my right palm,

A piece of quartz,

weathered, veined,

aged, colourless.

Through a field glass,

I look at the veins,

A life of their own,

Like those of my palm.

I test the hardness,

With a tiny blade,

It's just a mark:

My own memory.

The blade moves:

Another vein,

Leaves a mark:

My own memory.

Commotion,

Question,

Expression,

Exclamation!

The line's red,

A hint of pain,

I try hard to hide,

My sense of pride.

Bullied, beaten,

Troubled, tortured,

My soul's uncut,

Like hard quartz.