The coarse wind filled and emptied
the spiral shell.
“I am the sand” said the shell.
Wind rose as waves laughed.
“I’m waiting for emptiness which
has already come”.
Wind paused with distant thunder,
waves were thoughtful.
“There’s no waiting you know”
(We’re not sure who said that).
After awhile
There was a slight rustling of sand
around the shell.
“Well, I’m waiting anyway”
as shell and sand became mixed.
Dogs ran by and were gone.
A speckled gray stone peered up
through shallow water.
Waves lapped at the shoreline above
it.
Shell said:
“I love my rain girl
and she will empty my emptiness”.
Wind howled, thunder clapped, waves
rolled
what a song!
Many flapping wings were heard.
Feet walked the pier and were gone.
“I can swallow streaks of sunlight”
said shell offhandedly.
Clouds shifted, sun brightened.
Exactly one thousand years later
no one listened
as shell
became sand.
© Corey Kaup 8/12/95