hounds of the sea
For 5 days we anchor in the middle of Lighthouse Reef, out of sight of land, boats, and humans. We are swept clean by wind. We go snorkeling every day in the scattered & submerged coral islands. In this underwater arena, we have millions of companions. The larger, brighter fish catch my eye. There is the male stoplight parrotfish, bright turquoise with pink and yellow highlights, and puckered lips- and the female, who I’d mistakenly thought was another species— she is dressed in red, white, and black. There are sleek schools of lavender blue tangs. My favorite individual is the aloof and solitary french angelfish, midnight black and florescent yellow, who observes me carefully. When I look closely at the heads of coral, i see miniature villages, complete with minute urchins and schools of tiny electric blue fish. Where the sunlight beams through the water I see that I am swimming in a brew of microscopic creatures as varied as snowflakes. On the large end of the scale are the spotted eagle rays. Curious and gentle, they slowly swoop around us in circles. They have the head of a hound attached to a chocolate brown winged body, covered with white polkadots, trailed by a long, whip-like tail. These parts are all incorporated into a whimsical and graceful Dr. Seuss character. They follow us home to the boat. Our diet has simplified itself down to beans, fresh salsa, toasted pumpkin seeds, and fish that Fred has caught. Our daily treat is hot chocolate made with coconut milk. Fred, the successful fisherman, is now known as Nature Boy. And I am Poetry Girl. Though my pen has been quite dry recently, I feel the words, germinating. ~Robin~
