Shell Thoughts Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

The prettiest shell I found today
I cast back in the sea
The perfect one, so delicate, I let it be.
I saw your pain yet held on tight, I loved you so.
Then bleeding fingers turned to stone
And I let go.

I'll not take captive on this day
As once I stole your heart
You're soul, your mind and kisses too
And tied them in a knot.

It's hard to leave a golden shell
Alone upon the sand
Yet harder still to never hold
Your suntanned hand.