the stone in my hand feels rough
traces of the ground where I picked it up
cling to its surface
I dust it off
try to make it as smooth
as impermeable to the water
and aim it
twist my wrist
watch it skip three times
before it drives beneath the surface

I love throwing rocks into water

I love rocks

if you stand above the water, on a bridge or something
with a really big rock and throw it straight down
two seconds later, it's like it wasn't even there

I know from swimming in rivers
if the rock hits rock bottom or a bunch of other rocks
it'll click
click click
click click click
like a white billiard ball

mostly I throw because I'm curious
curious about the sound one rock will make
how far it can skip
how long it takes

sometimes I throw to develop my skill
it's frustrating when the rock skips once and I aimed
three jumps before the final sink

other times I'll search for the really big rock
and the deepest pool I can find
for the nano second it sinks surface to crater
I'm in my element

sometimes, after I throw a rock I'll stand
till the ripples smooth
it's comforting

and sometimes I'll wonder
how many rocks it would take
to change a watercourse or
launch a wave to the horizon