Naomi Shihab Nye

If you place a fern

under a stone

the next day it will be

nearly invisible

as if the stone has

swallowed it.
If you tuck the name

of a loved one

under your tongue

too long

without speaking it

it becomes blood

sigh

the little sucked-in breath of air

hiding everywhere

beneath your words.
No one sees

the fuel that feeds you.