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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Whales and Other Wonders

 

When I think about whales,
I think about Tahlequah, mother orca,
who carried her dead calf on her nose
for seventeen days and a thousand miles,
grieving, unable to let her go,
telling us humans: see! See what you have done,
making earth and sea and sky unhealthy
for everyone.


kwiisahi?is, Brave little hunter

My heart swims with Kwee-sa-hayis,
Brave Little Hunter,
who circled the lagoon, week after week,
crying for her mother, who beached
then drowned in the shallows
when the tides rushed in.
After five weeks, she finally swam free,
out into open ocean, alone,
small brave warrior,
looking for her pod.
How will her story end?

How will our story end
if we don't come to understand
whales and other wonders,
and how we are connected
with every living thing
on sea and land?



Spong, who was pregnant, beached,
and died, with her orphaned calf nearby
art work by  Kirsten Buchanan

Update on kwee-sa-hayis April 27 : Oh my goodness. My heart has been aching for this little one, whose calls for her mother have been so heartbreaking. After five weeks trapped in the lagoon where her mother died, First Nations spent an afternòon encouraging her towards the narrow exit by tossing chunks of seal meat. She came close, near the gravel bar where her mother died, but wouldn't go further.

Two observers stayed with her overnight and at two in the morning SHE LEFT THE LAGOON. A true wonderment. They followed, and found her swimming in the moonlight. Guardians say the rest is up to her. We hope she will reunite with her pod, or another family. May they hear her cries across the miles and come for her. Her grandmother is in the pod, and will care for her and teach her to hunt if they reunite. Once she hit open ocean, her instincts seemed to click in, and she began swimming with purpose.

There is concern until she finds her pod, as it is far away, and she is too young to hunt for food.  But it is amazing that she exited on her own, with the loving assistance of First Nations. 


 

Members of the Ehattesaht First Nations Band, who encouraged the brave little one to swim free, say she approached their boat after exiting the lagoon, as if to thank them. These are the wonders of life that warm our hearts, and keep us going when so much else seems difficult.

 Update: In early May, she was reported as approaching boats, indicating she is hungry and needing food. Whereabouts of her pod were then unknown, as it is a travelling pod, that was in her vicinity when she was first orphaned. Her grandmother sat for a time at the entry to the lagoon, as the mother orca died. Sadly Kwee-sah-hayis was so long in the lagoon that her pod moved on. So the question in my poem: how will her story end, still stands. Sigh.

Update May 20: I am holding my breath and willing reunion with my whole being. Brave Little Hunter's pod, including her grandmother, has been spotted in the area where she was last seen. But Kwee-sah-hayis's location is at the moment unknown. She has not been seen for ten days.

I had hoped by the time this posted, she would be reunited with her pod. But the question remains unanswered. I will update you at What's Going On if I hear of any further developments. My heart hurts, thinking of her, just a baby, sailing those big seas alone. I hope she is still alive and that the pod hears her calls. But she has been a long time without food.

For my prompt at  What's Going On   link   ~  Whales and Other Wonders. I had already planned to feature whales in a prompt, when this happened. It could not be more timely.


9 comments:

  1. What a moving poem, Sherry; and what a moving story of the Brave Little Hunter. I am glad it has a chance at least to join the pod. I hope some positive news will be forthcoming!

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  2. "My heart swims with Kwee-sa-hayis,
    Brave Little Hunter"
    I hope that this one isn't another story of death. There has been too much death. But I am encouraged by the people here and elsewhere, who come out to help. "How will our story end
    if we don't come to understand
    whales and other wonders. . . ."

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  3. The final portion of the poem leaves me worried. I hope the brave little one survives till it gets back to its pod and reunites with its grandmother. All through the poem I see a prayerful loving heart. So beautiful, Sherry.

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  4. Your love and passion for these amazing creatures shines through. Thank you for making us think about their wonders too - Jae

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  5. Your whales and other wonders is so touching, Sherry, especially reading about the mother orca who carried her dead calf on her nose, and Brave Little Hunter. I was very interested to read the updates, and hope that someone finds out where she is, and that she is reunited with her pod.

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  6. Heartfelt and loving - you can taste the empathy with these magnificent creatures. Great writing.

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  7. You have told this sad story with such heart and soul. Although the little whale may not make it the story has power and will become an influence on future human/whale interactions I'm sure. Your voice is part of the telling of the story. Suzanne - Wayfaring - Wordpress blog

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  8. You certainly have become totally wrapped up in these whales. I hope that it all comes out well, but nature for all its beauty, is indifferent and cruel. We don't have to be.

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  9. What a saga, and somehow I still think it will end well! Your poem conveys all the emotions that so many of us have felt, Sherry.

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