Knuckles dragging
we gathered our pelts
and meat
and met
down by the river
across from
the big rock
on the flat spot
which nobody
had agreed
to claim

I’ll trade you
two sharp rocks
and a cup of fire
for this skin
of warmth
and this slice
of life
and
what we’ll do
is laugh and yell
and jump about
all very uncivilized

but they are now
my rocks and fire
and your warmth
and life
and tomorrow
we’ll probably
trade them back