Page 206 - Tributaries Catalogue

here is a pair
of conch shells
why is the plural of shell shells
and not shi
for the purpose of the poem
it will be.

here is a pair
of conch shi
perhaps conscious of their pairness
and again
perhaps not
perhaps in the years spent behind glass
they have grown apart
perhaps they never spoke to begin with

and again
perhaps not
perhaps their only memory
is of being cusped taken glassed

to serve as diptych of captured ocean

and again
perhaps were they given the room
they would still recall the tides of their womb
but I think
probably
they speak in shi
whispering sweat seathings
only they can signify

swa hit beorna ma
uncre wordcwidas widdor ne mænden

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