As if life was found, accidentally, when
we took a wrong turn from death: a
shell lying on a shore that
it shouldn’t, that
it couldn’t,
yet, within it, the roar of the entire
ocean. Today, I held life up to my ear, it’s
voice was wet like rain, it wondered
if I should.
If I could.
THOUGHT PURGE 
I love the formatting of this poem. Perfect for the mood.
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Thank you, Sara.
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I so needed to read this today. Thank you
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Glad you got to read it! Thanks so much, Susie.
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To me, some of the breaks seemed like listening pauses for what the shell/ocean was telling you. Whatever, they work, forcing us to contemplate the words rather than try to apprehend them too quickly.
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Thanks so much… am glad it worked, one way or the other!!!!
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Life itself is amazing and no accident
Happy Sunday Rajani
Much💖love
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Amazing yes… !!! Thanks Gillena…
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Indeed, we are in need of a sip of hope……and strong and hopeful leadership!
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🙂 Thanks Beverly.
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ohhh this is deep. prayers and kind wishes for you today. nice write.
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Thank you so much. To you too. Stay safe out there.
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This is beautifully evocative, Rajani! I especially like the idea of “death: a shell lying on a shore.”
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Thanks Sanaa.
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It was always fascinating as kids to hold a shell to your ear and hear the roar of the ocean not realising it was in fact the echo from inside your own ear as well.
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Yes, I think so is life- more within than without! Thank you, Robin!
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The form, the shape, the spaces give this poem a visual aspect that has tattooed itself in my mind, Rajani. They also make the poem sound tentative when read aloud – firs steps outside. I love the idea of life being found accidentally when taking a wrong turning, and the lnes:
‘…Today, I held life up to my ear, it’s
voice was wet like rain, it wondered
if I should.
If I could.
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Thanks so much, Kim. Am glad this worked… I was wondering how I could slow a poem down…perhaps this is one way!
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Life will flow anyways……..
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Yes, the spacings, the breaths are so fine in this – I also noticed the punctuation – as if the sentences still existed across the gaps, across the spaces, across the uncertainty. So good.
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Thanks so much, Peter. Glad you liked it.
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Words I needed today, thank you.
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Glad you liked this, TioStib. Hope you are doing well and coping with these strange times.
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Wonderful. The format lends power to the words. I am exhausted too. We need some change, some hope….some leaders!
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Some light at the end of the tunnel would be good indeed! Take care, Sherry. Glad you liked this one!
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Ah! You did! Interesting new form! To me it suggests the broken world has bits of light, tempting us if we can take that “wrong” turn toward it. (So sorry I haven’t been around for a while. A pandemic sort of exhaustion and odd business right here at home …)
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Totally recognize the exhaustion from pandemic and everything related to it – I feel it too, I can barely write. Do take care. I like your interpretation of light breaks – I was trying to insert pauses, silences like one might do while talking about something larger than life… or heavier. Stay safe out there, Susan.
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