She was a careful study. Learning the currents,
the resting spots of the sea. Where to hunt
the lustrous pearl, hiding
under wave and wind.
Safely asleep within its barnacled bed.
She dove down, searching,
hungry for treasure again and again.
Each time empty handed. Her netted sack limp
and empty.
Dripping dreams upon the shore,
landing into perfect drops of sanded pearls,
beautiful,
but worthless.
Wide awake and ready to be snatched
and strung around her neck,
a golden chain of ocean.
She gave up. Something hard and unfamiliar.
And dragging from the sea, the sun catching
upon her wetted skin, missed
her arms and legs dripping diamonds,
slowly slipping between her fingers,
off her shins.
Treasure lost,
by a careless
thief.