Clam Eye, by Bill Arnott

photo by Bill Arnott (Canada) contemporary

Clam Eye

Not delivery, but instead 
that nano-micro instantaneous 
flash 
when something’s something new
alchemy, necromancy 
botticelli’s venus birthed astride 
an open-hulled shore-bound shell 
westerlies swirling locks 
the colours of salmon, sand 
and spring – printemps – adrift
no pilots, gigs, or ushers simply 
tug of instinct, artisanal tide 
with wide spread beckoning world 
a beach 
where houngans, mambo, druids 
palette-armed in ex-postdiluvial spectrums 
egg-yolk concoctions imagined 
emerge, dripping from sea-lapped rock 
to the molar-grind of mussels 
grit and clench of coital conclusions 
symphonic, the slow, slow applause of oysters
an orchestra, balconied scallops, clams in a pit
waves wash, conduct, dissolve, for now 
in splashes of saline steam 

​Bill Arnott

Vancouver author, poet, songwriter Bill Arnott is the bestselling nonfiction author of Wonderful Magical Words and Dromomania. His book, Gone Viking, is available here. His poetry is in the League of Canadian Poets Heartwood and Paper Dart Press UK PLAY anthologies. Bill’s poems, reviews and articles also appear online.