Cutter of Stone © 1997 David Roth

A cutter of stone walking down the road 

Coming home from a hard day's working

And he passed the house of a wealthy man

He stole a glance inside

Look at those mighty fine possessions

Fancy rugs and bamboo window treatments 

I'm but a lowly cutter of stone

I wish those things were mine

A puff of smoke, his wish was granted

He had become that very wealthy merchant

Two elephants in his garage

Eight-wheel drive, really big trunks

Now it's milk, now it's honey

No cutting stone, just naps and counting money

Til he heard a noise and he looked outside

A mighty king by his house did ride

"I wish I was that mighty king

It's not enough just having all these fancy things"

Another puff, and there he sat

Atop that horse, crown for a hat

"Now I've got power, ooh I've got bliss

And people bow, it couldn't get much better than this"

But the blazing sun was unimpressed

And beat down hard on his royal breast

The king got so hot he did exclaim / "I wish to be the source of such force and flame"

Another whoosh, and there he was / Atop the sky, above the clouds

But of course these clouds did block his rays

So now the mighty sun did say 

"Here's what I'd like", he claimed aloud

And thus became that very cloud

So far so good, he floated high

Until a wall of wind came blowing by

Blew him away, but before he went

Another wish - to be that hefty current

So he became without a peer

The rugged gale, the ruler of the atmosphere

Til he bumped his head and he could not move

On a towering rock, with nothing to prove

"I can't believe this boulder's strength

To be that strong I'd go to any length"

As was his wish, he became that rock

The mightiest force on all the earth

So there he stood for all to see

The pillar of the community

And then a little tapping sound

About five feet off the ground

He felt his form to change and shift

This mighty boulder, bit by bit

What on Earth could move the rock that stopped the wind 

That blew the cloud that blocked the sun 

That broiled the king who ruled the land 

Upon his throne?

A cutter of stone