I found a shell

I found a shell

I found a shell,

On a sandy beach,

The grains giving way beneath my feet,

The softness yielding to my weight / pressure.

Picking it up, I feel its texture,

The burrows of time washed over it,

The brittleness of its delicate features,

Contrasting with the sharpness of the fractured edge.

The coffee colouring with a hint of cream,

The sea’s barista training etched on its front,

A foam design on its arch.