Paul suffered
trapped between a rock
and another rock.
These rocks are hard
and opaque stone—
not metaphorical.
He stepped between them
on a trail
but they closed.
The slot canyon’s teeth
on the apple’s skin
of Paul’s body.
At a geologic pace
Paul might lose enough weight
in a few days to slip away.
The rocks closed on him
quite quickly—energetically—
and may use such speed again
to crush his suffering
being a gentle and humane
slot canyon.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 