finding gold

on my knees
I bend on the wet sand
of a cold
stream
and pan for gold.

I've been here most of
my life.
just one nugget will do.
one
solid piece
of gemstone.
gold, or silver.
a diamond perhaps.

something that will last
forever.

I've been at it so long
that I doubt
what God has told me.

but I keep at it.
pan after pan.
sifting, biting the fool's
stone.
tossing it back
again, and again.