The Sparkling Clam

Time is a precious commodity⁣ when you know yourself too well⁣

⁣

Know when you know better

⁣I knew from the start this time⁣

⁣

The charm came too soon⁣.

I liked being adored⁣ but

When he cast his net ⁣

I never got caught

Instead I slipped free⁣

and escaped his night trawl⁣

⁣fell tumbling⁣

⁣

down⁣

⁣

to a jet black ocean floor⁣

⁣

I shut my shell up tight⁣

every opening a risk to⁣

my soft grey centre⁣

⁣

Ssssssssssand sifted across my sea bed⁣

⁣There was safety in solitude⁣

⁣

⁣

‘i can’t stay shut forеver’⁣

⁣

⁣

I dont need to.⁣

⁣

I just must avoid⁣

⁣

the fishermеn⁣

the sailors⁣

the soldiers⁣

the boys ⁣

⁣

who will suck⁣

⁣

out my pearls ⁣

⁣

peel off my shell⁣

⁣

boil my body ⁣

&⁣

call me dinner⁣

⁣

⁣

Slowly but surely⁣

⁣

I became a sparkling clam⁣

⁣

spending days in sun rays⁣

⁣

on virgin gold sand⁣

⁣

elegant and violent⁣

⁣

strengthened by escape⁣

⁣

from the butchers above⁣

⁣

who knew nothing of love⁣

⁣

Just the ritual massacre⁣

⁣

“Bait Scrape Suffocate”⁣

⁣

⁣

One friday night I thought⁣

⁣

is death really worse⁣

⁣

than eternal loneliness? ⁣

⁣

Is the danger of damage ⁣

⁣

better than its absence?⁣

⁣

⁣

I spend my days in silence ⁣

⁣

at the bottom of the sea⁣

⁣

cool dark and clean⁣

⁣

now safe and serene⁣

⁣

⁣

yet I yearn ⁣

⁣

to open up⁣

⁣

and return⁣

⁣

to sea level⁣