If
If I bend, stoop and reach
At the sound of the cold North wind
And the rugged and raging sea
Harmonizing with the creak
Of my wrinkled, old, boney knees
A symphony of natural beauty
Stirs my soul as I search
For treasure left lying along the shore
For me
For me
For me
If the curve of my back is a bold black cleft
Or more like a twisted ampersand
And my heart beat slows
At the sight of gifts the generous sea has left
I wonder then
And now if
I raise the conch to my ear to hear
WIll the answers pour out
Or just sediment, sand and dirt
Will it whisper the secrets
I have walked here to find
Resting in windswept wet
And dry, brittle sand
Will it answer my questions
One at a time
Simple and clear
Plain for this wanderer
In search
Of clarity, comfort, forgiveness and
Peace
Or when the shell
Is pressed cold to my cheek
Will I hear only hauntingly
Monotone whispers
Familiar yet coded
That sound like the sea
A white noise of shushing and whooshing
Moans from the earth, like a chant from the monks
Worshipping high in the hills
And if that’s all that enters my soul
By way of my cold pink ear
The comfort of a lullaby fresh from the
Mouth of the ocean floor
That is more than enough
For me
For me
For me
It is miracle
Marvelous
Mystery
And I am now no longer in need
I want nothing, nothing
More
I have heard peace be with you
From the lips of the Sea.
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Joining Jennifer Dukes Lee for #tellhisstory and Emily for #imperfectprose
elizabeth w. marshall 
Will it whisper the secrets? oh we must be still enough to listen.
Beautiful.
Enjoyed reading this slowly…it is enough. Yes, any gift, in any size, any murmur, it is enough, because we cannot fashion it, or anything for ourselves. For all our accomplishments, all our advanced ways and access to information, we can fashion nothing, just receive. Much like John 3:27 says.
Cheers,
Leah
I am so glad I am here today, taking in your poetry, inspired by the sea, inspired by Jesus. This summer we found an old shell…fossil quality. It had been unearthed when they repaired the beaches from Hurricane Sandy. And it is such a treasure to me, reminds me that He wants to unearth treasures in us and it happens as He restores us, repairs us, makes us new again.