Two Ways

core intact, sun-bleached

white and pearly

a circle grown on a shell

spinning life into beauty

shale from the river, pearl from the sea

I hold a broken arrow and a piece of shell–see?

carved by time and water’s rhythm’s flowing

two symbols of extremes their truth showing

lessons teaching design and destiny

ebbing out of history, floating up to me

the shell of opaque lustre glows in the light

the arrow’s jagged edges honed for piercing flight

one magnificent home-creation

one cutting tool of death

singing song of the oceans

stealing enemy’s last breath

a broken arrow falling

cut from stone for cutting well

hearts of those still ignorant

to fear’s narcoleptic spell

two sides of the same coin (my face)

showing my love and my fear

two means of living opposite

two ways to be: Cordelia or Lear

~e