ON THE JEWELLER’S TABLE

Strange creatures lurk

on the jeweller’s table:

lashed with gold, winks tiger’s eye;

apache tears weep

by the light of moonstone,

aching for the cure-all

of a copper medicine man;

rocks slithered like snakeskin

or crusted snowflake

writhe in silver bondage;

jewels jump through hoops

spilling drops of bloodstone.