Finding the Pearl


far from the ancient umbo
where we began
past the pea-sized pericardium
pumping transparent blood under sands

beyond the tight abductors
connecting our soft tissue
to hard calcium

near the delicate labial folds
sifting the saline liquids we taste
our nacreous orb stands

triassic relic
calcium carbonate trove
aragonite diamond
wildly iridescent clove

alas
for this we're hunted
& pried open with a knife
our treasure is sold for export:

in this world too often
beauty carries a heavy price

Finding the Pearl, Trouvant la Perle, Encontrando la perla, Finden die Perle - an art work by T Newfields

Jules: Is this a poem or sermon?
Ellesha: Well, good poems have multiple dimensions.
Jules: Too often philosophy often gets in the way of poetry.
Why can't this dude describe an oyster without preachin'?
Ellesha: You have such critical eyes. Why is your skepticism so deep?
Jules: Au contraire, most people are far too afraid of criticising.
They're in a state of – what shall I call it – conditioned helplessness
Andrei: And zhat's precisely where zhose in power want zem!


Sound File Hear this poem. Sound File
[*** K /.WMA file]
Last Index Next
Copyright (c) 2000, 2008 by T Newfields
www.tnewfields.info/BlueEarth/pearl.htm

Online Art
- 35 -