SPROUT

let this world
grind your bones
the dust will 
fertilize a future

tomorrow’s flowers
grow from
yesterday’s loss

a footstep frozen
in concrete
forever preserving 
a mistake

until the sky goes tornado
and the centuries’ water
fills that corrugated divot
quickly giving life to
some small life
that will go mostly unnoticed

let this world
grind your bones
so something might
grow again.

James Benger is the author of several books of poetry and prose. He is on the Board of Directors of The Writers Place and the Riverfront Readings Committee, and is the founder of the 365 Poems in 365 Days online workshop as well as Editor in Chief of the anthology series. He lives in Kansas City with his wife and children.