Searching

I wade in the water
my hands digging in the mud
searching for that pearl
that shining pearl of light

Instead i find an old clam
my adversary
it covered in the barnacles of hate
and old grudges
while i, likewise, is covered in a mud of anger
and blindness

i prepare to through the old shell back into the water
while a small fish begs for my audience
i grant it, and the little quicksilver whispers
"Make peace, and find happiness, and restore friendship"
I angrily reply
"Silly fish! Do you not realize what this person has done to me! Betray and destroy me, that's all they've done. Now, I'm stronger than it. I will deliver my justice."
The fish only looked at me and said
"You've done your share of mistakes
you've been forgiven, now forgive."
then disappears into the water

I stand still, feeling the healing water gently lap my legs
i look around, seeing the fog, and watch a heron lift off for flight, flying into the mist
disappearing
like a beautiful ghost
moving on in life
i look at the clam still clenched in my hand
and whisper to it quietly,so none can hear but it
"I'm sorry, for what I've done, and what has happened. Will you forgive me?"
The clams sat in the palm of my hand, then slowly opened
Revealing the pearl i had been looking

I pocketed it, uninterested in it. The clam began to soundlessly talk. Revealing a friendship much more valuable than thousands of pearls.