Poetry Month: Pearls

Pigs have no use for pearls
by-product of an oyster's pain
consumed and excreted
not appreciated

by some fat-necked woman
who squeals at the pretty
the expensive pretty

at the library of
iridescent books
dusted and unread
bought for their bindings
bought and bound

-

If oysters ruled the world
they would have found
a cure for pearls

all around their shells
a chain of cancers
cut from a man