The Pearls of Persia.
Thousands of years ago,
Deep in the pristine waters of the Persian Gulf
Lay natural oyster beds.
The mollusks had but one defence…
They produced A PEARL…
A tiny gorgeous thing that was to be
A death knell to their natural world.
Beneath that open sky so full of moon,
The iridescent glistening gems
Guided the sailing plunderers in.
The humble mollusk torn apart.
The pearl ripped from its salty shell,
was carried off to Palaces afar,
where it became
the symbol of a vulgar wealth,
which in itself is never be satisfied.
Pearls spoke of desired elevation.
Vain lusting kings were proud of them.
Pale Queens choked on chains of them…
Sly nouveau Dukes smiled flaunting them.
Those Pearls of Persia
are now gone.
We never could leave Nature’s beauty
To herself…in pearly peace… alone.
Kristine Byrne. Dec. 2018
17th cent. Painting of the 1st Duke of Bucks.
by Michiel van Mierevelt