Common Hands

A common thing for commoners

among whom run such common tears

what a pity! oh, what a pity!

how they struggle in the mire

how they twist and turn and groan

how their song is such a sad one

and they never get it right

the common term for all of this is "suffering"

tho some just call it "life"

while others call it "death" and live as if they're ghosts

still others call it "blessing" as they count their broken toes

and some curse the heavens and hide within the dirt

i'll tell you this: it is such a common thing... life

that only common tears will do

and only common words can speak it

and only common hands can shape it

from this clay