Porcellana (Cowrie Shell)

Porcellana (cowrie shell)

Lucky I didn’t clatter to Earth

when you dropped me;

for this porcelain frame

would have shattered into a million shards.

Tempered from clay and powdered glass

my strength, hardness and toughness

would have become mere dust particles

to be blown to the four winds.

If I had landed hard upon your rocks

my shattered form would have split asunder

to be swept away in the raging sea

of your hatred.

It was my reading of the chart,

the triangulation of the stars

with my sextant,

my celestial navigation

that saved my soul.

And as I fell from heaven

on that gentle zephyr,

sent by my guardian angel,

I looked back in distain.

 

28/11/13

Author's Note

Reviews

[Laura Harrison]

This is such a descriptive and beautiful poem. I loved it :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks