“The long arc”

I

seek justice
and you hold
a seashell to your ear

hear
oceans whispering limitless
sssshhh

history heaps sheering waves
shattering across reefs
sweeping shallow bays

rearing breakers
pound shelving beaches
scatter shells with razor-sharp edges

II

knowledge like coral
shelters fluid ecosystems
and fragile

when bleached and gone
none can be recouped
crocheting hyperbolic space

Clare Bryden “The long arc”, Ink Sweat & Tears, 27 February 2026, online.