My Rock, My Home

When I was Eight,

In the field next to my school,

In the center of Beijing,

I found an orange-red rock,

imprinted with black lines that looked like grass.

I put it in my pocket,

It was love at first sight.

I took it home,

It has been my truest true friend since then,

My rock, my home.

Some say it is a fossil,

But I never puzzled it out, What kind?

My rock was true to me when people weren’t,

When I could count on no one,

I could count on my rock.

A piece of the earth,

Kept me safe.

I have grown older,

I let henna dye cover my white hair,

I went to the lake,

When the wind blows,

My hair was shining in the sunlight.

"You are beautiful."

My rock said to me.

"My hair is earth-red just like you."

I said to my Rock.

Our love never faded,

From Beijing to Osaka,

Japan to the America Midwest,

I sailed through continents,

Wherever I go,

My rock is my home.

I left my rock by the beach,

Hoping,

Another lucky child,

Would find it in times needed.