Poetry in the Ocean

Seahorse Love

 Her eyes peeked out from within the veil

Of coral tentacles at the edge of the shelf.

I could just make our her lovely tail

Which curled elegantly around a stalk.

My jellyfish friend descended lightly

Where the current hit the coral reef.

To his fellow cnidarian, he waved politely;

The coral answered in rhythm with the waves of the sea.

I picked myself up from where I had been sinking

Deep into his soft, balloon-like skin

and slid down his side, carefully avoiding

His stinging barbs, which he swayed away from me.

I saw her lacy fin shivering between the stalks

And I shambled over to meet her.

Swimming was more difficult than I thought

It had been so long since I had bothered.

My thin little fin barely held me upright

While my nose pulled me down like an anchor.

From a short ways away, I could hear her delight

Though, I think it was more of amusement.

I puffed myself up as big as I could

Full of joy to finally see another.

She came out to greet me where I stood

And blushed into my same colors.

My jellyfish friends couldn't stay any longer

The current was picking up again.

But I knew that I couldn't leave her

She meant more than a new best friend.

With a twinge of sadness, I nodded goodbye

To the jellyfish drifting off.

My time with them, I wouldn't wish to modify.

But a new chapter in my life just began.