"Shy is the oyster, fervent is the clam, peaceful is the ocean floor rocked by the sands of time"

Softness and reticence are embodied by the oyster, a creature that spends its life hidden, closed to the world, responding to its environment with caution and reserve. The oyster’s shyness is a metaphor for those who approach life with guarded hearts, protecting their vulnerable inner cores. Its behavior stands in contrast to that of the clam, described here with fervor, intensity and passion. The clam, though also a shellfish, is portrayed as possessing a boldness or spirit, less withdrawn than the oyster, suggesting the diversity of dispositions found in both nature and humanity.

Beneath both creatures lies the ocean floor, which is depicted as peaceful despite the upheaval enacted by the “sands of time.” The ocean floor forms a silent, steady foundation amid perpetual change: the movement of sand, shaped by currents and tides, stands as a symbol for the inevitable passage of time and the transformative processes of existence. Even as time acts upon it, rocking and shifting, it remains a place of serenity, undisturbed in its essence. The tranquility of the ocean floor, enduring beneath the ever-shifting sands, evokes resilience and calm. It implies that there is a grounding stillness at the core of things, regardless of what passes above.

Through these marine images, the text draws parallels to the human condition. Personalities and emotional states, reserved, passionate, peaceful, are as varied and interconnected as life under the sea. Every being is subject to the great tide of time, yet there is a quiet strength in abiding change with serenity. By highlighting the differences and underlying harmony between the oyster, the clam, and the ocean floor, the words invite reflection on individuality, transformation, and the seeking of inner peace amidst the inevitable currents of life.