Crackled Shells

When you can't change the world...

 

Shells are cracking 

You can hear the crackles 
if you listen
if you know how to listen

Shells are cracking

Light should filter in
but darkness filters out
you can see it
if you know how to see

Shells are cracking

The sound is everywhere 

Once you hear it…
you understand fragility,
you understand vulnerability,

You understand fear

Sometimes, the shell
completely shatters

The once honored cop
shoots his wife,
the single mother
drowns her children,
the disgruntled employee 
sends bombs in the mail…

Yet, no one heard the crackles?
No one saw the darkness?

Because I hear
Because I see
Because I understand 

Because I am helpless

Every time one cracks
mine hardens a bit more

To protect the light inside

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Many people don't hear and don't see what is important in life...they don't pay attention; and therefore they suffer the consequences..... one must filter out the darkness and be able to see, listen, react, when the time comes....to be able to understand what the world is like..... to heed the consequences...."one must be able to protect the light inside......" and listen.....
Excellent thoughts dear P.
Warmly, B

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Patricia … you have described our fears and reality in a poetic and 💜 heart-rendering verse. We will never return to the Innocence we once were born to live. We can strive for change of attitude and bring law and order to our World. Always keeping you in our ♥️ heart. gently, Pat

[jaye river]

your poetry always provides me with such rich and delightful imagery (maybe this one, the imagery is not so delightful) but wow. i know its a common rule to "show, not tell" but i think bluntly telling the reader "i am helpless" etc, is such a great literary tool. sometimes its most effective to be straight forward, and just tell. there's an art in that.

[Patricia]

thank you very much jaye, sometimes the word itself has its own power generating a feeling by the reader verses my feelings and images of the word, hence the reason for the straight forward lines. So glad you enjoy my writing. :)

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

This is a world gone mad. evert senseless killing sat the hands of av mad man breaks my heart.

[Patricia]

Hello Cowboy! good to see ya here. Thanks for reading and commenting. :)

[Chris Shaw]

Wonderful poetry Patricia. This is so relevant to the dreadful conflict we now have taking place. Makes me want to hibernate in my shell. So much darkness in our days. Looking forward to your second book coming out. Hope you are well my friend.

Chris

[Patricia]

Thank you very much Chris :) And yes I am well, busy and trying to work on the book when I can. Hopefully not too much longer. I hope you are well my friend and enjoying the change of season.

[Chris Shaw]

All reasonable Patricia. Feeling much better after COVID and enjoying warm autumn days:)

[Lorry]

Life has a way of cracking shells. Is it any wonder our shells harden in the surrounding life that aims to crack it way in and intrude in our lives?
The only thing that amazes me in life is that we all don't resemble humpty dumpty more!
This piece really grabs your attention, without shouts and screams to add to the noise.
Great piece.

[Patricia]

Thank you very much Lorry :)

[nadia dmitri]

This is such a great piece oh my gosh. I love love love every line. The connection of seashells shattering to lives shattering, and how if people learned to listen for the shell's cracks then they may understand why it breaks, what an intelligent and beautiful idea!!! This is definitely one of my favourite poems I am read on here. Amazing job :)

[Patricia]

Thank you very much nadia :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I love the foreboding you create in this and how the protagonist reacts by withdrawing further from exposure to 'cracking'.

[Patricia]

Thank you very much John :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Darkness replaces light...reason is replaced by insanity.
The turn of the screw.
And the cracking of fragile shells.
This piece is so powerful.
My friend, your second book is going to be amazing.
j.

[Patricia]

Thank you very much j. You are so optimistic! I might be if I can ever get it finished. :)