Incline Your Ear

Imagine the shell you find
on the beach, a large conch,
half-buried, glistening in
morning light, waiting to be
lifted, rinsed, held cupped

to your ear: This is your body,
listen and hear; blood flows,
pulse ticks, the ocean hums,
waves curl, crest, hushed, foam
licks wet sand, thoughts rise,

dissolve, wind whispers shhhhh,
the body breathes, deep waters
rest as silence speaks in the cave
of your heart. Incline your ear.
Listen. Come to Me.

—Sarah Rossiter

Image by Dagmara Dombrovska, public domain. Image cropped, background expanded.