Ah, but getting the rock to confide in you,
to divulge its stony name… there’s the trick.

It helps to hold the rock with great tenderness
and, yes, hum, softly, and listen, carefully,

ear to the pebble to detect its tiny notes. Which
it will give you, if you are patient, if you whisper

names as you sing. They might be the simplest
words but in a language only stones know. Still,

the gift of rock music is worth a bit of your heart.
(Where did you think it came from?)

Do not imagine that you know their sounds.
They promise: It will surprise you.