Shells

[Leananshee]

OK, I guess I'll submit one of mine:

[FONT=&quot] Shells -- T.S. Daily[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I found a bag of shells in the closet [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]That I had gathered out walking the beach [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barefoot, with my jeans rolled up[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]To my knees in the summer rain.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The only ones who could stand[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The pummeling of wall after blue-green wall[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Of water, pelting rain and salt mist[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Were fishing, firmly anchored to the shore[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Except for one,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oblivious to much else, who every few moments[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Picked up an empty husk hurled in[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On the waves, put it in his bag.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I remember how she looked[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lying on a metal cart, skin like painted concrete,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Head on a stand and mouth agape.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So this is how it ends....[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I walked along the beach, head in a cold white haze,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lurching about aimlessly, scanning the sand,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Dropping occasionally to grab a shell[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And drop it in a plastic bag I found[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Blowing down the strand.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I held her hand and said, "I love you--[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Don't you ever forget that."[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And though the lifeless lips attached to that broken body[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Could never have uttered the words[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I heard, "I love you too."[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I came back home to stacks of papers placed[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Meticulously about, in piles, in boxes, in bags.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The occasionally sorted fallout of neglect[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Was soon supplemented by yet another bag[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Put on the top shelf in the closet.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Too quickly I found myself lying down,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The singular image of her ashen skin[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Impressed upon the walls, which closed around[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Like a cop’s insistent drone:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]It's a crime to be alone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And every time I tried to fade away,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Will myself to dreamless sleep, not to black, but nothing[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A spark jolted fire to my cold brain[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And forced my stare to the ceiling[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]With a vacuous expression, mouth agape.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Why can't I remember you[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As you were?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Every so often, I'd rise to pick up papers,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Attempt the motions, or I swear I'd go insane.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And after not so long a welling fire[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In my stomach served to remind me[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]That you can know exactly where you are[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And still be lost.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]God save us all from choreographed reality.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rising from the void, the flames licked up[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The numb, senseless shell[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Once more lying on the floor.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Boiling, seething, breathing to a roar:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ALIVE![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Years of burning life into my heart later[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I looked to the top shelf of my closet[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And found pieces of shells, sharp fragments[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Hanging in a yellowed plastic grocery bag.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I pressed them in my palm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And I remembered.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]tim :eek
[/FONT]

 

[RedRyder]

Very well done....

 

[Leananshee]

Thanks. I should probably get back into writing some more; that one's been through several edits, but was written about fifteen years ago, the final edit about ten.

tim :eek

 

[Jessica]

good job!

 

[MoonOwl]

Very nice:nod: