Heart of Stone

[couchgrouch]

Heart of StoneRay came home after his 'round the clock shiftash in his hair...not an ounce of strength leftthat same stray kitten was crying by his doorRay fed him some tuna just like beforeand when alone he saw flame and smokey shapesbut deep in his dreams there were no fire escapessome drank to replace their tears and sweatbut he never cried cos what helped him forgetwas a heart of stonethat was cold and hardhe always made surehe kept up his guardover time he'd learned,even flame can't burna heart of stoneon Ray's next shift some old building collapsedthose ghetto projects are mostly fire trapsnear the top floor a fam'ly of seven diedRay brought them out but held his sadness insidea heart of stonethat was cold and hardhe always made surehe kept up his guardover time he'd learned,even flame can't burna heart of stonehe got home at midnight barely on his feetand found that kitten dead in the streetthe way a lone raindrop breaks a weakened damone single tear broke that weary man's heart of stonethat was cold and hardhe always made surehe kept up his guardover time he'd learned,even flame can't burna heart of stone(c)2004 Robert George