Peace, Fragile as a Seashell

Dec 2, 2025 | Poetry, Writing

In celebration of my friend Vinitha Dileep’s two hundred and seventy-eighth edition of Fiction Monday, I wrote a little something on her prompt: Drift. Vinitha is a fine poet and a longtime blogging friend. Please be sure to visit her site, Void Thoughts.

On lifting a seashell to my ear, I heard a poem whooshing on a tide…water or just the blood coursing through my veins and rushing past my eardrums? You decide.

Balance in Nature

Grey seabirds bobbing on a tranquil sea—
horizon out of reach, no change of scene
or sound breaks hazy dawn's monotony.

Adrift, a sea of troubles roils, foams
as whitecaps seethe and day gives way to gloam
the silent, placid whale swims deep, to roam

the vastness of an undiscovered deep
green forest, sunlit kelp and creatures keep
slow time, and even sharks drift, dreaming, sleep.

We humans drag our toes on shifting sands
traversing gold-flecked shores of distant lands—
a fragile peace, like seashells in our hands

held precious, broken, full of promise still
an offering, a vow: "We will not kill;
we'll heal the world together if you will."

Holly Jahangiri

Holly Jahangiri is the author of Trockle, illustrated by Jordan Vinyard; A Puppy, Not a Guppy, illustrated by Ryan Shaw; and the newest release: A New Leaf for Lyle, illustrated by Carrie Salazar. She draws inspiration from her family, from her own childhood adventures (some of which only happened in her overactive imagination), and from readers both young and young-at-heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, J.J., whose love and encouragement make writing books twice the fun.

8 Comments

  1. Vinitha Dileep

    What a beautiful poem, Holly! I’m so glad you decided to respond to the prompt. Thank you so much for the shoutout. You are so kind. 💛

    Reply
    • Holly Jahangiri

      Ah, Vinitha, the real “kindness” was in the persistence it took to leave a comment on your blog! LOL WordPress.com hates me, I think.

      No, in all seriousness, I always mean to write something for your prompts. Then life intrudes, and next thing I know, it’s the next Wednesday. I’ll try to do better. Thank you for visiting! And thank you for the kind words. ((hugs))

      Reply
  2. Corinne Rodrigues

    I read it out aloud to appreciate it even more and was transported to the sea! There’s just something about the sea that causes me to feel so loved and to want to love the world in all it’s vastness and beauty.

    Reply
    • Holly J

      That’s exactly what I hoped to make you feel.

      There’s something about the sheer size and power of the ocean, the Pali in Hawaii, volcanos and huge mountain ranges, vast canyons and Badlands that reassures me. Not in a benign, living way, necessarily, but I’m a way that says, “Life triumphs. It’s infinitely bigger than you are.”

      I think this notion scares men who would take and claim the whole planet. It comforts me to think the planet will survive them.

      Reply
  3. Sunita Saldhana

    I was transported to the bottom of the sea, swimming along with the whale. And then whispering”We will not kill;
    we’ll heal the world together if you will.”

    Reply
    • Holly J

      It’s where I want to be.

      Reply

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