on my desk
this day there sits many things
littered it is with paraphernalia
bits and pieces of my life
all mine
a mess it is
truly I jest not a real friggin mess
but the thing that catches my eye
the thing right now
that has my full attention
is a piece just added to the collection
a
bit
of abalone
my son brought to me
embarrassed he was when he handed it to me
he said
I know its ugly look it’s just a piece
and it has all these holes look
and there are jagged edges
and mom isn’t it just
ugly
and tears welled in my eyes
and I said no, there is no ugly here
see look
look where a creature lived
burroughed here not long ago
perhaps very long ago
look here where it shines
iridescent see the rainbows
and all these little tiny holes what made them
no
there is no ugly here
and just this day this bit of shell
was sitting in the lap of the mighty ocean
and you brought it to me
and that makes me a part of it see
every time I look at I see much more than this piece
I see the huge ocean and all its secrets
I see the expanse of water, the crash of waves
I feel the breath of the sea
but
do you know why I cry do you know why I love it so
and will keep it right here in a special place
because
you saw the beauty in it
because you shared its beauty with me
because you knew that your mama would
love
it
that’s why I cry
we are the same you and I
there is beauty in the ugly
we see it
and maybe next time
I’ll give you some money for the gift shop
maybe