The Tongue Says Loneliness by Jane Hirshfield

The Tongue Says Loneliness

The tongue says loneliness, anger, grief,

but does not feel them. 

As Monday cannot feel Tuesday, 

nor Thursday 

reach back to Wednesday 

as a mother reaches out for her found child. 

As this life is not a gate, but the horse plunging through it. 

Not a bell, 

but the sound of the bell in the bell-shape, 

lashing full strength with the first blow from inside the iron.