My stuff is so vile,
I am less than dustwhile your gleam rends the mirror's heart.
My darkness lights the chafing-dishbefore I am incinerated.
A miner's boottramples my head, covering me with ashes.
Do you know my life's gist?
A condensed sliver of smoke, transformedinto a single spark, in feature and naturestarlike, your every facet a splendor,light of the king's eye, the dagger's jewel.
Friend, be wise, the diamond replied, assumea bezel's dignity!
Loam strives to hardento fill my bosom with radiance.
Burnbecause you are soft.
Banish fear and grief.
Be hard as stone, be a diamond.
