The Guardian Clam of the Mastodon Tree

Wallace-Ruby Morales

The Guardian Clam of the Mastodon Tree,
A hollowed cottonwood by the sea,
Did not speak when called upon
Did not speak when called upon
Did not speak when called upon

And the sea went terribly wrong
Shoved where swayed
Wove where waved
Quickened, slickened, thickened

The Mastodon asked,
“What have you learned through guarding me?”
“To speak only when necessary.”
“And how might you reach the sea?”

“But the sea’s too big.”
“No bigger than a tear.”
“But the sea’s too wide.”
“No wider than fear.”
“But the sea cannot hear.”
“Only when you do not speak.”

The Guardian Clam of the Mastodon Tree,
A hollowed cottonwood by the sea,
Opened bigger than a tear
Opened wider than fear
Singing
And in flowed the sea
By necessity washed clean