Mussel

by Christian Ward

Every shell is dipped in night. 

Place an ear against the ceramic

to eavesdrop on fox squabbles, 

crows watching rubbish bags

left split open like unfinished 

operations, brambles unfurling 

their fruit. Humans, extras 

with no dialogue. Open every 

shell to reveal day – the glazed 

pottery, a perfect sky. Of course, 

there’s the meat: An orange muscle 

on a ready-made plate. Quiet, 

contemplative. I threw up the sea 

the first time I tried it. Didn’t know I was chewing its prayer. 

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Song of the Week, #6

U.S. Girls – Bless This Mess

Thank the sky for the deluge Forget your nightmares And the dreams that didn't come true You don't need no map When every road ends I heard from God and she said, "I bless this mess. Goddamn, yr doing yr best."

Ok, true, the song and the video were released months ago, but the album went live on 4AD a week ago, check it out here!

What’s your song of the week?

When we say perfect day, do we really mean perfect?

Isn’t it like in that old cliché which supposedly says beauty (and perfection) is in the imperfections?

When we asked you on Instagram what is your one-word description of a good day, the words that came up were: serene, reading, adventure, creative, contentment, relaxing, nature, productive… So many different definitions that (we are sure) change daily for each of us.

So, we started thinking about another question that can help your inspiration: what is the one tiny or grand perfection you can find on a normal day, that one joyous kick or spur of motivation, a moment after a hard day that makes you accept the bitter-sweetness and makes you feel like life is alright after all, that might fill you up with sense and meaning or just peace?

Maybe, a perfect day is compiled of moments of being that ground us, reconnect us to ourselves and our humanity. Maybe, just one such moment is enough.

We would love to hear what it all means to you! Send us your submissions for our monthly challenge till next Friday 😉

(Yes, you only have a week left.)

P. S.: We might also accept ironic interpretations of the phrase perfect day. Try us. Those can be the greatest lessons.