19 AUGUST 1966, Page 19

To a Shell

At last, beautiful shell,

Lie there crushed; but the sea Cannot obliterate yet Faith I remember well: A house facing the sea.

Hard and bitterly Though waves beat on that wall

From the swirling quicksands of debt,

I swear that it cannot fall.

Nor can you drag those words, Confident in their day, Down to the unknown deep.

I have a net w hose cords Gather the fallen day And make the forgotten stay In all but the detail death Moves to the realm of sleep, So strong is the pledge of breath.

And though the magical dice, Loaded for nothing, toss All to perdition, left

In darkness. held in a vice, No white breaker can toss

All to a total loss.

Still the relic will hold, Caught in a secret cleft, Tenderer light than gold.

All I remember, all Of the locked, unfolding days Where tomorrow's treasure shines.

Fragile nautilus caul, Tell the linger of days: 'Find me. Enter the praise Of Eden's morning, inlaid With dazzling, intimate lines.

Touch, and the world will fade.'

VERNON WATKINS