Barnacle House © Yvonne Cornell 2013
Our homes are softly feathered burrows we take pride and gather in with loved ones. Or perhaps they are merely walled fortresses protecting us from outside intrusion. Like the acorn barnacle, we exit from our shells of singular solitude to feed and circulate when necessary or if the mood strikes us. An acorn barnacle builds an outer wall made of rigid plates after attaching itself directly to wood, rock or any suitable underlying surface. The animal lives inside, sending out appendages to capture food particles through an opening at the top. If space becomes tight on the underlying surface, neighbors will push each other out to make more room. Are we really that different from this crustacean? Food for thought while at your kitchen table . . . snug as a bug, home sweet home, and all that.
Barnacle Fortress © Yvonne Cornell 2013
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