House and shell
are equally there.
A sea rustles in each.
Copious emptiness: only
a barnacled head
blows about the chambers.

Here children grown nacreous
birthed parents, years too late.
A violet mussel
worked violet moisture.
Cries and whispers
made coral in the rafters.

Now there is juddering
scouring air.
Glass crabs drag off
superfluous remembrance:
what was and what wasn't in
house and shell.