Pendant

Need for a strong magic
leads her to the edge
where land meets sea to choose
this shell, smooth as her child's
honeyed skin, the colour
of his sun-blonde hair,

knowing she can give
no more than this: the daily
bread of being, the sky's
blue oven, love's seasonings,
the creamy froth of waves
breaking and breaking.

Her faith in metaphor
places on a slender thong
power to survive the weight
of oceans - an amulet
for the imperilled journey
out of the world's womb.

With hope in prayer she sets
the shell's hollows against
her son's chest to sound
his bloodsongs, knowing
worms made the hole
through which she draws the thread.