Walls

My terrace wall dropped
a few stones. I lift them
back, use a dab of mortar
to lock them in. Rough on
hands but I like their hard
skins and sudden weight.
Frost, chipmunks, roots
niggle stones from my wall
and leave pockmarks on its face.
Men like to build walls,
always have. The Great Wall
of China, Roman walls, and
walled cities fill history.
Walls mark boundaries, protect
territory. My wall holds earth
firm, keeps in place some
ground to stand on.