Cowrie?? But on Malaita, in the Solomons, they actually work ordinary shell
and string it. It is used to purchase a wife. I bought some and got winks
and ribald chuckles with my purchase. Arthur.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Horwood" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2003 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: New sub: CBD ( Rewrite)
Hello Arthur,
I like the rewrite and I think the sauterne image works better
with this rewording. I now get your intention with the `heaped shells bar
pearlī
but I wonder if itīs a little obscure. What about giving the name of those
shells that were commonly used as currency and whose name I canīt now
remember? That might make the reference clearer.
Best wishes, Mike
--- Alkuperäinen viesti ---
The CBD
Sun on blasted stone glows
golden clean windows wink
white clouds bloom high
over me and move sedately on
the air?s clear and cold and sweet
as a glass of Sauterne
trees by the memorial pruned to cups
bare now but budded
a pigeon displays his wings
and boat-body on the blue.
All their confusions of deeds,
stock and valuta useless in dim vaults
heaped shells bar pearl
wadded wealth and copper coinage
buys not one second of a morning
rich and full as this.
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