fool’s gold
encrusts a piece of jade
this cross-section
of nothing surrounding something
is pretty
and heavy

in my hands is
a deep green sea
met at both sides
with bronze gold beaches
i can see the depths
of this rushing ocean

remember when
you found this in the attic of your dead grandfather
this was the last time
you would ever be there again

he couldn’t remember
who you were
which saved a lot of time anyway
because it was easier to introduce yourself as a man
of no relation to him
then to have to explain
that you were his grandson
who was assigned female at birth

you were never
fool’s gold
like how they wanted you to be
you were
this bright sea of jade
crashing waves
into the weight
of your hands

lately in your life there’s
been a lot of death.
your grandfather died three years ago
which hasn’t been the recent grief.

fool’s gold
encrusts a piece of jade
this cross-section
of nothing surrounding something
is pretty
and heavy

in my hands is
a deep green sea
met at both sides
with bronze gold beaches
i can see the depths
of this rushing ocean.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash