A Fountain of Shell and Stone
A Fountain of Shell and Stone
I
The Fountain
A broken fountain
dusty and unused for years
from a broken home.
A pump does not work
the sounds of water replaced
by a rock silence.
Everyday children
donations to an alter
leave each stone they’ve found.
Starts out with granite
shale from our loose landscaping
once collected here.
Ornamental fish
tank stones polished to a shine
mixed within each type.
There’s jagged sandstone
creates abstracted angles
tangent to the curve.
Time searching the ground
to find perfect replacement
to fountain water.
II
Stone
Paper butterfly
with simple purple pattern
on delicate wing.
Rusty bottlecap
a random piece of litter
brought in from the out.
A small pewter frog
swimming in the summer air
among these hard stones.
Some volcanic rock
from craters of volcanoes
where we have stood tall.
Ceramic odd ends
painted at Birthday parties
broken through the years.
End piece collections
sawed from the base of pine trees
every December.
Various fragments
swimming in clear epoxy
taking random space.
A wooden kitten
hand carved and colored brightly
eyes closed with a smile.
III
Shell
Two handfuls of shells
some from a spot on the beach
others from a store.
Mixed with stones are shells
made from Calcium crystal
this Mollusks Nacre.
Empty snail shell homes
intricate spiral patterns
life architecture.
Marbled Nautilus
marks from years of the water
on empty fountain.
Random collection
of items found in our sight
when we glance downward.
Brought to eye level
rusted five sided bronze star
around the fools gold.
A small dried red rose
Aloe Vera plant in light
germinated seeds.
Strong boy paper doll
placed gently by someones son
overlooks the bay.
IV
An Invitation to Write
A Tillandsia
Bulbosa so often called
a common skyplant.
Polished quartz crystal
as clear as still lake water
next to found Calcite.
To contrast polish
many are jagged and raw
still finding a place.
Single yellow bead
lost from a broken necklace
alone on fountain.
Without any fear
we are playful with our words
this power we hold.
Embrace creative
thoughts as they come into view
organize and build.
Then share it with us
give us a bit of your soul
to place with these shells.
Adorn with beauty
of more than just these objects
incredible you.
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Lost and found items that have tender meanings – remembrances of once happy times. This work, all the Haiku verses, is heart-rending, yet lovely and nostalgic. Beautifully penned, Jamie. Well done.
Thank you Phyllis. I enjoyed working on this piece. I actually have an old broken rock fountain that my and the children have been collecting our odds and ends on. Amazing how much has been collected in a year. Writing this poem was an active event I found myself pacing around the object taking notes. Jamie
I agree, all a touch of nostalgia and lovingly penned, Jamie. Great work.
These were great haikus Jamie. Very detailed descriptions. Nice work.