Treasure Hunt - Amber

The awe and wonder of this mighty cosmos is, of course, not only to be found in the skies. It is also to be found in palaentology. This poem, of course, only scratches the surface of the wonders being revealed in that area of science - but is a reminder of its impact on part of our modern way of living.

Amber - fossilised resin: Picture from Pixabay

Amber scoured by the sea with insects trapped by the resin

might look like this when cut and polished.

Treasure Hunt 

To occupy the children,

we invited them to search

among the tiny pebbles

for drops of yellow worth.

For amber, with its beauteous

clarity and sheen,

imprisoning tiny fossils

of creatures long since seen.

Those microscopic insects

entrapped in resin flow,

link eager-minded children

to aeons long ago:

some thirteen thousand decades

have passed since those small lives

succumbed to trees’ extrusions,

to become a jewellery prize.

Soon after these entrapments,

bipedal hominem

stepped out towards the future

of homo sapiens.

And God’s astounding weavings

from land and sea and flesh

began to need Salvation

from a self-destructive weft.

Our children hold these hist’ries

within their trembling hands;

they little know the wonder

uncovered ‘midst the sand.

It falls to us with learning,

far deeper than of yore,

to open up the wonders

their treasure holds in store.

If you enjoyed this poem, you might also enjoy On THe Beach

Other poems, meditations and songs with a SCIENCE & FAITH theme can be accessed HERE