A river lets go of its
heaviest burdens first.
Das Schwerste Gewicht –
first boulders, then cobbles.
Then pebbles and sand –
some of which compacts
into sedimentary rock.

A river’s passage is a testament
to the passage of geological time.
Well before historical time –

the stint of humans –
began.

I was recently told
a rock becomes a stone
when a human touches it.

I recall Milosz:
“Rivers grow small.
Cities grow small.”
Slowly they disappear.
Stones weather down and –

with their remnants transported –
are eventually turned back
into rocks.