Walking the sea, I think of the small diaspora
of the hermit crab, and the unshackled shell.
I think of the sealed spiral, niche and cupola
the nautilus crafts as if the ether windowed spirit level.
I think of the mollusk that lets the coffined pearl,
blind eye white as albumen”grow.
Walking the sea, I think of the skull, and the curl
of organs in the Canopic jar: glassy vertigo,
staring in, stares back, the afterlife or another death.
Walking the sea I see in the ropey egg cases
the umbilical cord’s birthed death; my little faulty breath
that displaces my mother’s linked neaklaces
of veins and blood. Vowels I cannot swallow,
I hear again in my first word, mama” all the diasporas to follow
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
