You would walk Coverack shore on the ebb
from the far north end to the harbour wall —
would plunge miles beneath the sea bed
where the Lizard bulldozed into Cornwall.
From the far north end to the harbour wall
lie minefields of smooth-sharp intrusions.
Where the Lizard bulldozed into Cornwall
you would stumble over cool basalt wounds
and minefields of smooth-sharp intrusions
among crust crumbled gabbro boulders.
The moon rubbing rubbing salt in wounds —
what secrets has this place been holding
among crust crumbled gabbro boulders
and upheaved mantle covered at high tide?
The secrets of this place have been folding
weaving red green veins of serpentine
in upheaved mantle uncovered at low tide.
You would understand what happened here —
reading the red green veins of serpentine
exposed to light and the world’s weather.
You would understand what happened here
once plunged miles beneath the sea bed
exposed to light and the world’s weather
while walking Coverack shore on the ebb.
Clare Bryden “The Moho Discontinuity is exposed”, Elsewhere, “Palimpsest”, 19 December 2025.