Sea Shells

Hear the sound of the waves in the silent night?

As they leave a deposit of brand new souvenirs for those who have come so far.

Rose pedal shells,

          Sand dollars,

                   And, shells of many colors.

Those sea creatures gave their lives to bring so much joy.

Only for those who came afar to scour the shores just for them.

People of all ages and nationalities who speak different languages.

Their eyes are cast down on the millions of lifeless bodies of sea urchins,

who have left their only remains behind and will not be forgotten.

In glass cast of all kinds of shapes and sizes,

          they are filled with those lifeless shields that were once alive.

There are big Conch shells,

          shiny and beautified on the many displays.

The merchants profit from a creature that gave up all.

Now,

from the store to homes and other places

          to sit on shelves all over the world.

Shells are sacrificed to make bracelets,

          love charms,

                   and faces on clocks.

They are gathered in vacation homes on the beaches,

          in offices,

                   as well as in plain view for sale in the stores.

When they disappear there will be more left on the sand.

There will never be less

          than there will be more,

as the cycle of that endless search continues for those mysterious creatures

          who completed the circle of life.

And will always be remembered by their lifeless display.