Son, I am weighted.
            You are light.

Our ancestors imprisoned,
            outcast

in sand, swinging
            between scorching air

and the insult
            of blizzards.

Their skin bronzed
            and chilled

like brass,
            listen

to their sorrow
            ringing.

“Temple Bell Lesson” from Topaz (c) 2013 by Brian Komei Dempster. Reprinted with permission of Four Way Books. All rights reserved.