I've been working hard on this one. I hope you like it. It has a happy ending, and a sad one at the same time.
A Rescue
Massive in its sleek and lumpy form,
the right whale, barnacled and with ironic slanted smile,
lies in water too shallow for it to swim.
Its tail slaps what's left of waves with futile fury, exhausted.
One does not know what to make of such grotesque glamour.
How can this docile stranger,
alone and alien appearing,
lullabies unheard on land,
move us, singly, to be saviors of a sort?
A blonde woman in shorts and sloppy sweater
pours more water on the creature's hulking body
then throws the bucket down for more.
The water makes it slick and shiny;
the moon's solo reflection glints upon its back.
We come together, and together
we dip and pour and dip again.
Too large to push back to the sea,
our little crowd must keep this vigil of water bearing to the whale
through the night until the tide returns.
When morning finally comes,
expectant hopes float with the swirling sea foam from the deep.
We see our breath, and hug ourselves for warmth
and watch with water slowly rising around us.
Our ankles first, and then to knees and waist,
isolating with its surging chill,
the ocean slides up higher on the sand.
The whale's buoyancy finally enhanced,
its tail with mighty force propels it free.
The early sun peers over eastward cliffs.
It swims.
As if we wait for rolling credits of a film,
we stand and watch it swim to open sea--
its quest is finding those with whom it wants to be.
Those whose ears are near the water
can hear its gratitude in song.
Or is that music more of longing?
A whale is a large thing to be sure,
but the sea is larger
and it is alone.
One by one by one, we take our leave
and slip back silent to our shrouded lives.
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Comments: 32
beautiful!
This was moving: summation (to keep it simple)
The connection between beast and man, the lonliness of the vast sea and the thrill of connection between the huge lumbering whale and the skinny, powerless man. This connection was stunning.
The joi-di-companagie of a mission accomplished, wherein each returns to the mundane lives lived; but larger now, for having connected to the world at large (represented by the whale.)
The words you chose, dear sir, stir, connect, ease, thrill.
Very excellent work. Very excellent. You are as one with the world infinitum.
Wilka
You opened your poem with words that described the whale and the setting wonderfully well. I could easily see the movements in my mind's eye, and hear the sounds of the splashing of the water over the whale. Great use of the oxymoron: "grotesque glamour"! How befitting.
I really liked this. So much in it, and your last lines are so poignant. I'm glad you wrote it, a rescue indeed.
"One by one by one, we take our leave
and slip back silent to our shrouded lives."
If you could translate whale language, I wonder what it was really saying. Perhaps it was a curmudgeonly whale muttering curses in whale street vernacular.
Forgive my whimsy.
The poem is really excellent.
Congratulations David...
Blessed you are.
Wilka
This is a beautiful piece of work. I thank you.
Congratulations on your win.
'A whale is a large thing to be sure,
but the sea is larger
and it is alone.
One by one by one, we take our leave
and slip back silent to our shrouded lives. '...
Well done.