for Sue Lester, tidepool buddy
At low tide
bejeweled anemone appear,
nestle like olive green breasts
between slick black rocks,
tentacles tucked in tight,
the ample girls showing off their
seabling—lacy coralline algae,
once pink, now bleached white,
random shell bits, washed
rainbows of abalone, limpets like
tiny volcanos, cobalt mussel pieces—
artfully assembled mosaics
decorating many sizes of fullness.
We think of some we know who’ve
lost one or more, some who’ve
decorated themselves with loving
ink in place of what was taken.
We step carefully, bend to admire an
anemone sporting a stylish turban shell
jauntily perched on one side.
We marvel at the pale crab
claw centered over its mouth,
just where, on some of us,
a nipple might have once been,
an extra flourish of adornment,
a touch of originality bestowed
by chance, swirling in on the next
tide, to land gracefully in just
the right spot.
Güd wrtr 
I love this. Thank you.
Thank YOU, Texas Jan!
Jan, This is such a beautiful poem. I particularly loved this stanza: seabling, so wonderful! the ample girls showing off their seabling—lacy coralline algae, once pink, now bleached white, random shell bits, washed rainbows of abalone, limpets like tiny volcanos, cobalt mussel pieces— artfully assembled mosaics decorating many sizes of fullness. Love, Amrita
Thank you for those wonderfully specific lines and images, Amrita! Love your feedback!
I’m glad. We’re going to meet sometime, right? Want to Zoom?