You are a river rock,
not a jewel.
A jewel is beautiful, yes,
but a jewel’s value exists
only in the context
of the beauty it brings.

Jewels are meant to be displayed
upon other beautiful things
or in a museum,
where a passerby can say,
“Oh, how beautiful,”
before returning to their day.

You are a river rock,
not a jewel,
worn smooth and cool
by water’s gentle hand
and whose imperfections show
upon your face.
Your beauty is plain
and honest
and because of it you will always exist
in the current
alive
and not inside a glass case
in a museum
perfect but stationary.