carrying a tune Jun 1, 2026

walking in the surf
i hear ringing
clanging like an old phonecall
annoying and beautiful and urgent

down in the sand
is a shell scooting along
half-open and half-full of water
and floating compasslike inside
is a butterfly-shaped crystal
turning and flashing

i pick it up
it continues to sing
i realize the wind is powering it

i bring it home
and it doesn't sing anymore
even when i blow on it
as hard as i can

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carrying a tune

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