The Pearl Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

The seas are rich with living things
and creatures of all kinds
an endless bounty waits below
and those who seek may find

A cornucopia of food
entices hardy men
who sail and brave the mighty waves
again and yet again

But in the darkest, deepest caves
far from oft sailed trade routes
there languish crusty creatures who
conceal most precious fruit

The South Sea oyster cannot form
more than just one rare prize
and few the shells that hold and grow
one pearl so well disguised

Once in a while a grain of sand
will enter that dark womb
a shock and grating thing it is
to be encased, entombed

The finest minds, the greatest brains
have yet to find the clue
of how the oyster forms a pearl
with tiny crystal hues

It's imitated everywhere
and worn by those who crave
and dream of having just one pearl
from nature's darkest caves

The seas are rich with living things
and creatures of all kinds
an endless bounty waits below
and those who seek may find.