Do oysters treasure their pearls
or suffer them?

Are the growing gems 
   a constant annoyance?
   an out of place wrinkle?
   an incessant itch?
   or a comfort,
         something to hold on to?

Do they have a mother’s pride in
   their luster?
   their shape?
   their size?

With some species 
cultured pearls are harvested
and the oyster is reseeded,

like bitches in a puppy mill.