Sea Shell
by Michael Tusa
He left me, some time ago, scurrying away, just left me, just glistening piled on hot grated rock.
I protected him selflessly, protected his back, let him seem normal, let him seem natural, let him blend in. And now people step all over me, say ouch, then leave.
Sometimes water gets to me, fills me up, lets me ride the sea, but eventually, i'm just spat out again.
Useless.
Sometimes even a gentle hand will lift me up, look at me, see that i'm not special enough, not enough stripes, too few spots, a crack here or there.
They toss me.
And again
I sink
as the wind buries me deeper, all of us isolated, so close together, blind in the dark sand. If we had voices
we would yell,
if we could move
we'd dig our way out.
But the only noises we make, the only things we can do, are to let you hear, the empty sounds we make when you
press us against your ear.
This is sweet (in the best sense of the word -- gentle, innocent, slightly bewildered). My kids often wonder what sea shells say. You capture the wonder of such a thing beautifully here. It's a lonely existence, too. I feel that in here as well.
I read down the middle - a poem within - good work. Fav
Ouch. This one really hurts, but its your words that make that lonely pain come alive.The noises we make..when you press us against your ear. Heartfelt.