"I refute it thus!"

                        Samuel Johnson

 

Nothing isn’t brought

from somewhere.

Take this rock.

Science stubs its toe.

Philosophy kicks air.

 

Each takes the rock to be

exemplary of “there,”

lab rat of quiddity.

 

To Pharisees a stumbling block,

to Priests a cornerstone,

Prophets flinging side-arm made it walk

on water.

 

Take this rock--

obdurate, cold.

Kick it with laughter

at what is not,

at Time’s rat-hole,

then limp after.