The Shell

The Shell
by Molly Drake

Living grows round us
like a skin,
to shut away
the outer desolation

For if we clearly mark
the furthest deep,
we should be dead
long years before the grave

But turning around
within the homely shell
of worry, discontent
and narrow joy,
we grow and flourish
and rarely see
the outside dark
that would
confound our eyes

Some break the shell

I think that there are those
who push their fingers
through the brittle walls
and make a hole

And through this cruel slit
they stare out across
the cinders of the world
with naked eyes

They look both out and in
Knowing themselves
and too much else besides

------

Molly Drake (1915 - 1993) was the mother of singer / songwriter Nick Drake. She was also an amateur musician and poet. I just watched the documentary "A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake" where his sister quoted this poem. "The Shell" blew my fucking mind. I am very rarely impressed by poetry but... it pretty much sums up my world view. That's me, looking out of the slit since I was a child. Everything I've ever created is a reflection of that. Sorry to get so cheezily deep on you but as I've said... I have to keep you on your toes.

Her family made a little Molly Drake MySpace profile with more info and poetry: myspace.com/marylloyddrake

Also, it seems the documentary I mentioned is on YouTube starting here. It's good stuff but get ready to feel sad (and I don't even count myself a fan of Nick Drake aside from his songs "Day is Done" and "Black Eyed Dog").