heat flow

once living, once dead, once buried

once cycled

through a billion year’s pressure

down, into earth’s glowing heat

up, into cooling plate crust

chiseled out from kimberlite surrounding

cut and polish and carat’s pricing

armored display cases, global advertising

finally, shining, in a diamond

human, even brighter than all of that

is voting, being, loving, breathing

living freely

not made entirely of carbon