The visionary swims through a world of blue,
awakened dreamer, with eyes that see,
champion of the deep sea creatures:
a ballet au deux, in the depths of the sea.
He aches for the creatures he loves so much:
fins sliced off, live bodies
thrown back in the water
to die excruciating deaths,
because humankind has lost its way
not realizing even now there is
a price to pay.
"I know how I will die," he said,
but he didn't know it would be so soon.
He died where he was most at home,
surrounded by the beauties he loved,
so he was not alone.
I watch him swim with these gentle beauties,
see the film he took of those dying in the nets,
their faces showing agony
that hurts my heart,
because everything needs to change,
and we haven't even made a start.
Young dreamer, you gave your life
for the swimmers in the secret sea,
and because of you, we can only hope,
one day they will swim free.
for my prompt at earthweal: Sharkwater Extinction, about Canadian diver and filmmaker Rob Stewart, who died filming the sharks facing extinction because humans like shark fin soup. Sigh. Fishermen capture them in driftnets (along with many other creatures, all of them doomed to expire), slice off their fins and toss them back into the sea to die. How did we become so barbarous, so wasteful, so disrespectful of life? She asks foolishly.
Beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the prompt, Sherry which, as you will see, I might have found tricky if it hadn’t been for David Attenborough and Blue Plant II. I also got a lot out of your article. I love the opening line of your poem (thank goodness for the visionary and his eyes that saw), and the thought of the ‘swimmers in the secret sea’. I also enjoyed the image of the ‘ballet au deux’, but my blood boiled at the thought of the fins sliced off and live sharks thrown back in the water to die excruciating deaths.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad tale! How did we lose any sense of compassion? And however do we get it back? Well, we start with re-connecting with our humanity, and reading and writing poetry is part of that. You have more than done your part here.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder when we took the "kind" out of humankind. Sigh. We need to get it back.
ReplyDeleteHow indeed. Humans took a very wrong turn awhile back. Can we find the proper path?
ReplyDeleteI share your disgust, Sherry. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is very moving, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteGreat homage to Rob Stewart and the shark waters he loved. May he and all the lost sharks swim free. Great challenge -
ReplyDeleteso young, so young. out of the mouths of babes... the emperor has no clothes.
ReplyDeletesome may listen. will enough act?
"He aches for the creatures he loves so much"
ReplyDeleteYes indeed our longing is for a beautiful restored Planet Earth
much love...
I was surprised that they cut off the fins. I knew they took their teeth and sharking has turned into big business. So sad, it's amazing that this man found
ReplyDeletea place in the sea that called him.
"Awakened dreamer" Such perfect words! A beautiful and touching tribute Rob Stewart.
ReplyDeletetribute to
ReplyDeleteI watched the documentary tonight and was so moved. What a remarkable man and gone far to soon. We needed him. Beautiful poem.
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