all around me, earth
filling me with its soft breath
& hardening my skin of rocks
the salt is my lifeline
the sky is my sea-green world
though i am just an oyster
within me, is home
to a pea crab
within me, is white mountain
of pain
within me, is food & brine
to lavish & cleanse
within me, is forest
of solitude
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub- Tuesday Poetics - the four elements, hosted by Sarah Connor. I have chosen the element of earth (the other choices are fire, air and water). Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.
This is so beautful, Grace. I really like the list elements in the final stanza - such a well-chosen range of images. I feel you've brought all the elements into your earth poem, somehow.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Sigh. You've brought the sea and air into your earth--but of course, they are all connected.
ReplyDeleteI love this ... ingesting the earth through an oyster's valve. A stellar bite of Earth. My only suggestion would be to put the oyster in the title, why make the reader work to get to the pleasure of the association ....
ReplyDeleteFine work, Grace. Salute!
ReplyDeleteAh, each of us a world within ourselves. I love the image of the mountain and lake. it looks like Washington state to me. Is it?
ReplyDeleteIf you are describing my header photo, its from our beautiful province of Alberta, Banff area. Thanks.
DeleteSo beautiful, Grace, the way you brought all the elements together!
ReplyDeleteClever POV, and wonderful message. If God, and one part of the universe is within us, then certainly Earth joins the party.
ReplyDelete"within me, is home/ to a pea crab/ within me, is white mountain/ of pain" caught my breath. Your poetry hauntingly poignant as ever
ReplyDeleteLovely poem.
ReplyDeleteArcadia Maria
this feels like an evolution of so many experiences, really enjoyed! 👏👏
ReplyDeleteI loved the perspective of the oyster experiencing the earth. Wonderful symbolism too.
ReplyDeleteI like the oyster metaphor. Great poem Grace.
ReplyDeleteSo much more to find and experience when we look within. Love the blending of the elements. A gorgeous write.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. It was quite a novel experience to identify with an oyster. Your writing really drew me in.
ReplyDeleteI love how you captured the different textures of earth in the contrasting sounds of the words, Grace, for example ‘earth/breath’ and ‘skin of rocks/salt’, and shifted focus up to the sky and back to the sea.
ReplyDeleteI love this, Grace. It strikes me as being one of your best. Beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is very beautiful and full of grace ❤️
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images.
ReplyDeleteA lovely piece, very well done.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDelete