Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Pearl


One thing he didn’t say
about the pearl of great
price is what force and
energy and friction are
needed to shape it and
mold it and polish it.
Otherwise, it’s just an
ugly piece of grit,
suitable for irritating
the stomachs of oysters.

This poem is submitted for One Shot Wednesday, sponsored by OneStopPoetry. The links will be live at 4 p.m. central time today.
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23 comments:

  1. Louise GallagherOctober 19, 2010 at 6:01 AM

    I like this series Glynn -- at least it feels like the start of a series to me.

    Word images connecting through a
    photo that stirs my mind and awakens my thinking.

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  2. UnknownOctober 19, 2010 at 6:28 AM

    This poem is very valuable also...thanks Bro'

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  3. mohan37October 19, 2010 at 7:23 AM

    Great poem and lesson :)

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  4. MTJOctober 19, 2010 at 7:37 AM

    Hi Glynn,

    Even without the picture, the words of this poem create a mental image of the actions taking place.

    The words, force, energy, friction, shape, mold, and polish all give me images of the pearl's evolutionary process.

    Without that effort, well...there's the Otherwise.

    Blessings and peace.

    MTJ

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  5. JerryOctober 19, 2010 at 7:42 AM

    Great insight. Keep the poems coming. Like your style. May we never just remain an irritating piece of grit.

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  6. MaureenOctober 19, 2010 at 8:19 AM

    I like your use of action verbs and that this poem has several meanings; it's layered, like the shell itself subject to the ocean's detritus and rough treatment.

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  7. HisFireFlyOctober 19, 2010 at 8:32 AM

    Force, energy and friction, yet in His mighty hands, so gentle as to change us but not destroy us.

    Beautiful work Glynn!

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  8. LindaOctober 19, 2010 at 9:04 AM

    I have been thinking about such things lately. You have put it so well Glynn. I would like it to be gentle and easy - but He knows best.

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  9. S. EtoleOctober 19, 2010 at 9:32 AM

    what is the popular saying ... "no pain, no gain" ... like the way you put it better ...

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  10. Kathleen OverbyOctober 19, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    Becoming lustrous hurts. Bad. Or hurts good? This is surely one for keeping. iLike X 100.

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  11. S. EtoleOctober 19, 2010 at 10:52 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. Brian MillerOctober 20, 2010 at 5:55 AM

    ha. but the blessing is that from grit comes a pearl, but not always....nice one shot.

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  13. AnonymousOctober 20, 2010 at 9:06 AM

    Wonderful impressions!!! Very very well done! :) ~April

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  14. BubbaOctober 20, 2010 at 12:37 PM

    It's the abrasions in life that leave us polished. Nice One Shot, Glynn!

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  15. ClaudiaOctober 20, 2010 at 2:18 PM

    ah yes - that's a good thing to remember...

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  16. BeachannyOctober 20, 2010 at 4:02 PM

    This poem like life secreting layer upon layer of beautiful meaning. Thanks, Gay @beachanny

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  17. CMOctober 20, 2010 at 5:12 PM

    Sometimes life can be painful, but that is how we become more and more humble, and in the end, beautiful. Oh wait, you were talking about a pearl...or not? :-)

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  18. AnonymousOctober 20, 2010 at 10:06 PM

    grit

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  19. signed...bkmOctober 21, 2010 at 12:06 AM

    we all have a lot of polishing time needed in that belly of the whale call life...nice write...bkm

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  20. dustusOctober 21, 2010 at 9:39 AM

    Wise words and message conveyed through tight lines. Great One Shot, Glynn!

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  21. AnonymousOctober 22, 2010 at 8:41 AM

    Fabulous write and I do so love the last two lines Love and Light, Sender

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  22. MarshyOctober 22, 2010 at 4:07 PM

    hi glynn...still reading and sorry i missed you last week...love this..and we both mention pearls this week...so true...for something beautiful there is a lot that is put into it to accomplish it...take care my friend

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  23. Steve IsaakOctober 23, 2010 at 4:35 AM

    Exemplary proof of what's supposed to be beautiful often comes from ugly backstory events.

    Strong choice of metaphor, with an inherent story buried between lines.

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