young and eager oysters
find the shucking very
hard.
Their pearl ripped free,
squandered.
Left to bleed joy and
wisdom
in the dark.

The acid bile of waiting
worries young oysters
far too much.
Far better to endure.
And open wide in offering
to one
who knows the worth of oysters, pearls and pain.
Who shucks the shell, not roughly,
so it closes safe,
again.

Little oysters can mature
and open many times.
Grow pearls of depth and beauty,
gracing any link.
But here's the trick...
to see the platter masked as
chain
and wait
without regret