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Broken Glass

by Michèle Nardelli

By Michèle NardelliPublished about a year ago Updated about a year ago 1 min read
Top Story - October 2022
52

Along the hot, white beach, it glistened green,

bright among the scallops and periwinkles.

Strange and smooth, mother sun shining through it

like an omen.

He took it into himself, kept it as a talisman.

Deep in his skin bag, he could trace his fingers

over it, feeling its hard sparkle, a twinkle

in his pocket.

At night he listened to the grandmother and

grandfather stories, looking for the meaning of

the green stone – was it a tree spirit, tumbled and

lost at sea?

It entered his dreaming, large and ominous.

A staring lizard lens, looking into past and future,

and it grew heavy and brooding in his soul.

An ugly premonition.

Glinting, green, eyes pierce his night

from armies of relentless men

who wait in boats as big as mountains,

to stride ashore.

He wanted to say something, tell someone,

to preach a warning about the wanton tides.

Yet it defied all explanation, it was a puzzle,

an encroaching green.

Instead, he went down to the ocean to find the place,

and return it to the sand and sea, to un-disturb

the harmony it had broken - fiercely hoping

to stem the tide.

heartbreak
52

About the Creator

Michèle Nardelli

I write...I suppose, because I always have. Once a journalist, then a PR writer, for the first time I am dabbling in the creative. Now at semi-retirement I am still deciding what might be next.

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  2. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  3. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  1. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  2. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

Add your insights

Comments (15)

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  • Michelle Renee Kidwellabout a year ago

    Awesome poem, very well done…

  • Troy Nicholas Tuckerabout a year ago

    As I read it I could hear the ring of swords clashing, I could smell the rum and the sweat and the tang of the ocean. The last verse, you wrote "the harmony it had broken". Did you perhaps mean the harmony "he" had broken? Just wondering but very nicely done!

  • C. H. Richardabout a year ago

    Beautiful visual. Loved this story telling poem ❤️

  • Rebecca Ridsdaleabout a year ago

    Beautifully written. I flowed with the heartbreak.

  • Matras Dohrmannabout a year ago

    👏👏👏

  • La Coulon Jabout a year ago

    (❁´◡`❁)

  • Ye Er fanabout a year ago

    👏👏👏

  • El Cabriabout a year ago

    💖💖💖

  • Square bitabout a year ago

    👏👏👏

  • Wonita Gallagher-Krugerabout a year ago

    Beautifully written.

  • Laura Lannabout a year ago

    Such a complete and delightful story that is thought provoking yet told with so few words.

  • Jacob Shermanabout a year ago

    I may have ascended to a higher level of artistry simply by reading this. Time will tell. Thank you for sharing.

  • Melissa Ingoldsbyabout a year ago

    Amazing

  • Diane Siefkesabout a year ago

    I'm just exploring poetry and I enjoyed your work, thanks!

  • Jason Ray Morton about a year ago

    Wonderfully worded. Thanks for sharing your work.

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