Messages From The Sea

The first time I see you the bay carried you onto 

my friend Virginia's beach   eyes closed 

hefty head-body laced with seaweed 

sable buzz cut glimmering in sunlight

your species belong to those who are 

acrobats of the sea   clumsy on land

speed demons in the water 

up to twenty-five miles per hour

I feel you I have become awkward on the earth 

but in the pool I come alive   no pain in my legs 

I can sprint twenty meters then back in no time 

turn around and do it again and again

on land it is different   my legs tire 

my back aches   I am short of breath 

discouraged   I walk only when necessary 

though it is against my nature to be sedentary

how did you arrive at Cozy Cove? 

were you basking in the Pacific 

lost direction at the Golden Gate Bridge 

swam the wrong way   ended at Pt Richmond?

your lifeless body washes up on the shore 

no movement

humans tow you back to the dark sea 

your heaviness pulls you to the depths

the next morning you appear again 

once more the boat   at low tide 

pulls you far out into the ocean 

releases you to the mystery of the deep

a tribute to your heroic life 

your death offers food for sea creatures 

a banquet in the watery universe