Someone tell the pearl diver—
            that the sea is dead.
That the sea robins and dogfish swam away
            days ago.
That the coral once
            tangerine,
                        lilac,
                                    and 
                        blush
has bleached.

Whiter than a wedding dress.
Whiter than a pale, stone-cold stillborn 
            gripped so tightly
like a small,
            precious
                        pearl.