The mollusks sleep
in jagged beds of salt,
brine decor,
and desired obscurity
While my desperate nets heave, HEAVE
but come up
with skinny crabs
and empty dreams
Color the sky and sea romantic
Call the birds
to offer movement to the canvas
Anything that takes prying
should be left unopened,
like sawing through bone and lace
My hands agree
holding soggy ropes
There are not enough Oysters—now—
The Tide—has turned away—
Sweet—Salty—Pink—their Secret Flesh—
Once blushed beneath the Sky—
The Rocks—retreat—like faithful Friends—
Too long—the Sea—has pled—
For Pearls—that once were whispered—round—
Are faint—like Ghosts—of Bread—
The Stone Crab—waits—in patient Grief—
Its Claws—a Prayer—unsaid—
The Hand—too late—remembers Grace—
When this great Feast— we Ate—
So Nature—keeps—a Book of Loss—
And writes—in Salt—Her Psalms—
While Human Hunger—counts the Cost—
And empties—out—Her Palms—
What I found inside one Oyster —
Was not a Pearl — of Sea —
But something soft — as Wonder —
That trembled — quietly —
It had no luster — save the Thought —
That Beauty might be small —
Enough to fit — within the shell —
That scarcely shone — at all —
The Tide went out — and left me —
Its secret — in my hand —
That Wealth — is not a Substance —
But what we understand —
I swallow the living grey flesh whole,
its salt-slick body
sliding down my throat like a small death
I chose to welcome.
The shell cracked open,
exposed—
raw.
Beneath the moon's pale gleam, I sit alone,
The sea's cool breath weaving through my robes.
Upon my lips, the ocean's secrets flow—
Each oyster a pearl of the world untold.
Their brine whispers of the tides' long song,
Of ships lost, of lovers waiting in vain.
A sip of wine softens the sea's harsh kiss,
Its fire dancing where salt once reigned.
Oh, life is fleeting,
like white foam on the crest of green waves,
But here I linger, a guest in deep sleep.
Wine and shell, the night's treasures, I keep,
And toast the stars, in there bare silver light.
Who needs tomorrow when tonight is this sweet?
The sea, the wine, and the world at my feet.
The sea scatters oyster shells on its shores,
adorning Gaia with its treasured gifts.
Oysters have shed pearls since the dinosaurs;
seeding sandy beaches between tide shifts.
Mother-of-pearl colors a glassy sky
as Dawn merges with the blue of the sea.
And time is in no hurry to slip by,
escorting endless waves ashore carefree.
Sol's light gilds the sand, and gold filigree
set with quartz crystals sparkles in the sun.
And an oyster open for all to see
proudly holds a pearl that Nature has spun.
The sea bestows its riches on the Earth,
where humans can appreciate their worth.
Nine mile water pipe.
Ponosse ergo
Godzilla saw
Liggttraxx
Letourneau g175
Saws fractum 2012 Aps
Forage
18123007007
Chain trencher
Sandvik dd42zie
Hw300
Mega tunnel boring machine
Mb r800dru cutter
Long wall shredder
Dc drum cutter
Roof top water harvesting.
Date fed me oysters with amorous intent
Food poisoning struck me, I heard his lament.
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There is a stall down by the dock
Selling the freshest seafood stock.
Creatures in shells, caught just offshore.
Live oysters there for eating raw.
Each one sealed up and watertight.
To prise open it is a fight.
Down in one, living flesh slither.
Sudden burst of ocean flavour.
Only these ones you eat alive
If you expect to stay alive.
Oysters help keep men in the pink
As they contain a lot of zinc.
Tis healthy food without a doubt.
Best washed down with some Irish stout.
Now Casanova knew the score,
As he ate live oysters galore.
He knew how to play a good game
Eating fresh oysters without shame.
There is a stall down by the dock
Selling the freshest seafood stock.
Cookie, fire-up yer chuck wagon 'cause th' round-up is begun!
Us cowpokes is gonna cull th' herd frum dawn to th' settin' sun!
We is gonna supply you wid th' cookin's fer our chuck tonight;
Heaps uv good ol' Rocky Mountain oysters broiled fer our delight!
It'll be a hot an' dusty trail as we drive 'em frum th' chaparral,
An' herd them cantankerous kine fer brandin' in th' ol' corral!
It'll take a heap uv sweat an' a lot uv cussin' to git 'em movin', alright,
But it'll be worth it, 'cause we is feedin' on Rocky Mountain oysters tonight!
Usin' our cuttin' hosses we'll rope an' wrestle th' bulls to th' ground.
There we'll brand an' neuter 'em as they beller an' kick around!
We'll be bruised an' kicked fer little pay but that'll be alright,
'Cause we is gonna enjoy a feast uv Rocky Mountain oysters tonight!
Us cowboys works hard wid little pay rollin' 'round in th' manure,
Convertin' bulls into steers; that's more'n them city fellers could endure!
But that's okay, 'cause at round-up time we gits a special treat;
Tonight we is gonna enjoy a feast uv Rocky Mountain oysters to eat!
When I got to Heaven,
God was gone
His desk cleaned out,
the Angels pawned
Not one scant sign,
he was ever there
Eviction notice,
pinned to his chair
My ride had left,
my ticket torn
No place to stay,
my hopes forlorn
Looking down,
I saw the truth
The clouds were empty,
destitute
All tenets followed,
a promise made
Those things I dreamed of,
the church forbade
So here I stay,
imprisoned high
No pearly gates
—the oysters fried
(Rosemont College: February, 2020)
A diner sits down
looking forward
to eating oysters
it was their season
after all
just as he was about
to pounce
on the oysters
the head oyster spoke up
saying
hey human what the hell
do you think you are doing
you think you have the right
to eat me?
that’s violating my human right
don’t ya think
the diner laughed
said to the oyster
shut up and accept
it is your fate
to be eaten this date
just let me enjoy eating you
and you have no human rights
as you are in fact
not human don’t ya know
eating the complaining oyster
shutting him up
as he ate him up
Mountain oyster stew for lunch
Lovely for an old ladies’ brunch
They down them with glee
Happy as crones can be
I do not think they have a hunch
Oyster's Bay And Point Can Tell,
Where The Pearls Of Light Do Dwell.
Along The Meat Of Muscled Shell,
Across Points Bay, ... Feat, Feat, We Shall!
Mountain oysters so tasty until
You get knowledge from mean cousin Bill.
But before I found out
Gave them enormous shout
I hate to admit I ate my fill!
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