My body lies amidst the sand,
drifting, shifting among castles of sand.
Fluffy, misty clouds bounce by,
each shape, each dream, each moment nigh.
I see islands and castles and princes fade past,
but I'm brought to the present by
the sea conch's blast.

The sea conch's blast so strong, so true ,
Now I'm running along the sand to view
the mermaids and fish and dancing horses
gathering beneath the rocks encompassing,
an island pool, so crystal and cool,
with showering sea moss coming to dual
in front of King Neptune enthroned on his stool.

I sneak and creep above the charcoal rocks and gasp,
for there before my eyes at last,
is the presentation to the king - a gift of pearls,
am I dreaming or is this a magical feast?
So I wonder and mull, musing this fact,
when all at once the sea conch distracts,
a beckoning call from the murky depths beyond.
It is then that I realise that I've lost this bond.
This bond with the ocean and its creatures that came
to visit me and uplift my spirits that day.

So now I walk beside the rippling waves
and the seagulls above call my name.
I return to the rocks where the triumph took place
and there is nothing, nothing, nothing remains.
A disheartening tear slides down my cheek,
my vision becomes blurred and meek.
It is then that I taste the salt in my mouth
and I'm among the waves in the ocean beyond.
My body's weight falls helplessly under,
now before me is a tunnel to a secret chamber.

Stalactites hang from the gothic arches,
suspended magnificently guiding me yonder.
In and in the tunnel consumes
till at last I'm in quite a different room.
Pearls and cockle shells hang handsomely down
And the room is carpeted with sea moss cushions like velvet gowns.

There in the centre a mermaid holds,
what seems to be a huge oyster ajar
and inside I see what I've been waiting for,

my sea conch, my sea conch of all my dreams,
mine to hold, mine to set me free.

Now I stand upon the sea shore,
I climb upon the rocks abroad.
Here, there are oceans of splendour for me,
with desert sands so vast and free.

It is Years since the spectacle took place,
and sometimes I wonder whether it was a mistake.
For now when I call to my friends out there,
they do not appear at the sea conch's blare.

Yet suddenly I'm with the clouds again
and I feel relieved, comforted, secured, when
It is then that I thank this welcoming shell.
For Inside of me it has planted a seed,
a seed not entangled with moss or weeds,
But a seed of knowing that one heavenly day,
we'll return to the ocean to the sea, the bay.