Buried deep in the attic.
There is a spiral shell.
Sandy-colored and spiny on the outside,
But turn it over, and you will see that
The inside of the conch is a
Smooth, creamy pink.

And if you put your ear
To the opening, and be very quiet,
You will hear the grey-blue
Waves of the ocean, crashing in the distance.
And if you are extra and specially quiet,
You may even hear the wind.

A conch is a portal, you see;
A portal to its true home.
If you were small enough, you could go in,
And then you'd be at the sea.
But for now, we'll have to settle
For hearing it through a shell.