At some point, a stone appears—an obstacle so large it feels insurmountable. It might be a personal struggle, a difficult choice, or an unexpected challenge that feels unbeatable.
The common instinct is often to avoid, work around, or ignore it. It is seen as a barrier to progress. What if that stone isn’t something to sidestep? What if it’s something to reshape? Within its hardness, there could be something waiting to be uncovered—a path, a door, a new direction.
This question lies at the heart of Shifting the Stone. The poem challenges not to escape difficulties, but to transform them. The stone doesn’t vanish; it changes. What once felt like an insurmountable barrier now shifts into something more practical—something that can be used to move forward.
The poem speaks to anyone who has faced a challenge, encouraging a new perspective on obstacles. When the obstacle is observed from another angle, what seemed unmanageable becomes a tool for change, a catalyst for moving in a new direction.
Shifting the Stone: The Poem
By Kerry Ann Wiley
Within the stone, a door awaits,
Not by avoiding, but by reshaping.
Each jagged edge becomes a curve,
A channel for light to twist and fall.
A shift is small, yet vast,
In the new angle, a world unfolds—
Not what is missing,
But what can emerge
From the quiet center.
The question rises, “What else?”
Not from the visible,
But the hidden thread between—
Where walls blur,
And ideas break free.
No lines are straight,
Only bends and folds.
What is forward is all around,
A new beginning,
A thousand directions.
Through unfamiliar eyes,
The world exhales, and the dark dissolves.
Is it a boundary,
Or an opening to step into?
The ground beneath shifts,
And movement follows.
For those who learn to navigate difference,
The horizon extends, not in front,
But in all directions.
Where space becomes water,
And the flow is endless.
The voice that says “stop“
Is muted here.
The question rings out,
A collective hum of “Why not?”
Turning silence into possibility.
Words hang in the air,
Like vapor, heavy and light.
A single phrase,
A shift in the winds of thought.
A path appeared,
Not of steps, but of possibility,
A new language of ascent.
Independence is not a place to land,
But a current that moves, quiet, unseen.
Measured not in miles,
But in the grace of moving at all.
In the spaces of doubt,
A question takes root:
“What else exists here?”
And the asking itself
Becomes the answer.
The questions asked become the frame,
Each hand that reaches builds the shape.
Every challenge holds its own answer,
Not in the damage,
But in the making of something new—
When leaning toward each other.
The shift isn’t in the space between,
But in the pulse,
In the hands that weave,
In the hearts that merge.
Together, the unseen is created.
In each gesture, a spark.
A word that rises,
A touch that begins again,
Each moment an echo
Of a thousand moments before.
What if it could shift?
The thought flutters in,
A whisper gathering force.
And then, certain,
The pulse of “Why not?”
Not just for one, but for those yet to come—
What is moved today
Carves a path for others,
And in their footsteps,
The road finds its shape.
Not the limits, but the ways.
The question isn’t what can’t be done,
But what can be turned toward.
The Power of Perspective
The poem invites a reconsideration of what it means to face an obstacle. In a world that often prioritizes speed, challenges are frequently seen as hurdles to overcome quickly.
Yet Shifting the Stone offers a different perspective. It doesn’t encourage resistance but transformation. The stone does not vanish; it shifts, revealing hidden paths, fresh perspectives, and opportunities for growth—possibilities that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.
“Within the stone, a door awaits…” This opening line suggests that even the most unyielding obstacles hold untapped potential. Challenges are not just barriers. They are opportunities waiting to be discovered. Yet, unlocking this potential requires more than force—it calls for engagement, patience, and a fresh perspective.
Asking New Questions
One of the most striking themes in Shifting the Stone is the importance of curiosity. The poem suggests that transformation begins with small, powerful questions. Asking “What else?” shifts the focus away from limitations and toward possibilities. This simple, open-ended question becomes a catalyst for discovery, encouraging exploration of what lies beneath the surface of an obstacle.
Rather than asking, “Why is this happening?” the question shifts to “What can emerge here?” This change in perspective reshapes the narrative, turning barriers into opportunities and stillness into growth.
Transformation Beyond the Individual
The poem emphasizes the collective nature of change, illustrating that true transformation occurs when people join forces, rather than striving alone. Change is not solely a personal journey, but a shared process where the efforts of many extend far beyond the individual.
Through collaboration, obstacles are not only overcome for individuals, but also for others, forging paths that can be followed by many. This interconnected approach to transformation relies on the strength of the group, where each person’s contribution helps move what once seemed impossible.
The poem shows how collective action reshapes not just individual experiences, but also demonstrates how united efforts can achieve what was once thought unachievable.
Conclusion: A Shift Toward Possibility
Shifting the Stone reveals that challenges are not mere barriers but invitations to change. Instead of avoiding or resisting, the poem calls for reshaping obstacles into opportunities for growth.
A small shift in perspective—asking “What else?”—uncovers hidden paths and opens new possibilities, breaking through limitations. The collective power of collaboration strengthens this transformation, proving that change thrives when shared.
In the end, it is not the stone that defines the path, but the ability to reshape it. What could be achieved if every obstacle was seen as a chance to create something new?
Discover more from Wiley's Walk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.