i.
confounds volcanic stalactic—
if you dissolve in hot springs
expose veins below
water table
fumes will radiate
in perfect patterns
ii.
contains inelastic semi-opaque bundles in seawater—
faults disjoin
from residual liquids
band in rock cavities
crimson curve
that may be colorless white
iii.
coats salt domes with pearl fractures fused bladed—
can also be
pseudocubic crystals
in the cap rocks
iv.
combines in irregular series colors—
scarlet streak
apple-green
in ultraviolet light gray to black
in the zone of silver
v.
fractures at base chromium-rich with banding—
when formed by
effervescences redeposits can
deflect compass needles
terminate the past
vi.
shows pleasant score steam back to intended—
to build a farm
on larger grounds
may be stringent
in chosen times
vii.
coheres as gravity churns mantle—
stalagmites of crushed bottles
solidify like lava
in plastiglomerate wash
viii.
stands for years—
cottage in orchard
fifty-six acres
enshrined grotto
below road and shore
ix.
dilutes cold minerals Mesozoic that compose with consent detritus—
halite indicates oxides
massive
as bones
and tides
x.
wells into rustic sandstone matrixed angular—
rare specimens
coat the ridge
with warnings
[Original layout of this poem displayed above, under accessible text].
S.D. Dillon has an MFA from Notre Dame and lives in Michigan. His poetry has appeared recently in Bloodroot, The Phare, MORIA, #Ranger, SORTES, and The Shortlist: Best of BarBar 2024, and is forthcoming in Bacopa Literary Review, Southland Alibi, and Rundelania. He can be found on Instagram at @sddillon50.