Clam sea waters hit upon my feet.
The air of the sea; so calm salty and sweet.
Washed upon the shore I saw a few shells.
Some I picked and walked away, not knowing the message within that dwelled.

Large, Chipped and conked shells,
The lost reality of life they held.
The many that one sees through his life,
Oh, this pain and solitude! I wish I could break the secret with a knife.

I treasure them and keep them safe,
Like true friends, a possession on them I take.
Some are beautiful though tarnished by time,
Others did not take any time of mine.

Soon some were lost, I felt no pain,
Some pricked me but I treasured them still, in vain.
In the music of life stood a quiet undiscovered treasure.
Waiting for me to notice it in patience.
And when I found it, took my heart away by no measure.

Days passed on to months and years,
More were lost and broken through many tears.
But one stayed on forever,
Radiating me with its beauty and power.

Suddenly one day, memories washed upon those shores,
The air of the sea so calm and serene.
And on the shore I found those shells,
I took the one that lay deeply embedded in the mud, its radiance apart from others,
And walked away smiling, knowing now
The secret in them that dwelled.