I am Butte

Long ago…
colors and shades of grasses
grew and blew in swaths upon my chest.
Layers of soil and stone took turns with
boulders, native bushes, berries, trees,
ferns and flowers—all spread across my belly.
My limbs stretched out
into spaces where I touched—
flirtatiously embracing
shifting waves of Water, Wind and Time.

Water from rain and storms fell from above
nourished all of me and
all that saw me as home.
Crashing and caressing waters
from waves along my sides and limbs
callously took more than I wanted to offer.

Wind carried coolness, conversation,
pollen and playfulness
also becoming manic—
uprooting my growth, all that I protected,
stole—stealing my layers—my space and places
for holding hope and new seeds.

Time brought Water and Wind together, little by little and lot by lot—
multiplying the aggressive sides of their natures.
Eroding, erasing, slipping, sliding, gripping and gnawing away—
at all of my parts—
at all that was my form—
my girth and expanse, my protection, provision, and strength.

I wonder where I went?
What Matter did I become?
Does it matter that I once was
bigger in my before?
Water, Wind and Time
have taken more than I know.
Yet, I still stand upon something stronger—
waiting my turn,
contemplating what matters
in my Matter…