SPIRIT LIFE

STINGRAY SHUFFLE

Gliding the warm, ocean floor,

I’m a sassy, swimming saucer.

When humans approach

and continue to encroach,

I become a double-crosser.

A venomous barb on my tail,

poses potential danger.

My personal protection

guarantees your dissection,

you seacoast amateur.

Here’s my advice to you,

for eluding my under-sand ruffle.

Wade near the shores

to eliminate stressors,

and—

Dance the Stingray Shuffle.

THE GREATEST SHOW ON SEA

Board a tour boat.

Captain increases speed,

maneuvers wake.

A passenger screeches,

"Dolphin on the right!"

Jump up, grab your camera,

see`a sleek, silver shape

slicing the sea.

Clap, chuckle, shout, stamp.

Twinkling eyes, smiling face,

swirling through waves, surfing the breakers,

vaulting to your height, vanishing below.

Vigilant. This time you shout,

"Dolphins puffing on the left!"

Circling, prodding youngsters at play

encouraging passengers...be child-like too.

Cutting through the water in unison,

springing, diving, rising then disappearing

to the rhythm of a laughing, applauding audience.

TENACIOUS CATFISH

Fish line nosedives, arm jerks up.

Hooked a big one, I start reeling.

Powerful fish tugs, drags the filament.

One side other under behind.

Fail to shake it, knife out of reach.

I squirm, struggle to follow.

Kayak surges, anchor lodged.

Dragged across lake.

Rod in holder strains at right angle.

Attempt to paddle, abandon challenge.

Sturdy boat veers into blustery wind.

Fish acquires strength, I grow weary.

Jettison rod? Leap from boat?

Fishing partner speeds.

Intercepts my vessel, severs line.

Sighs of relief dissolve into laughter.

PRIVATE PERFORMANCE

My reserved seat: flat brown rock.

Backdrop: sky, clouds.

Stage: sand and gulf,

Props: mangroves, sea grapes.

House Rule: Once Seated, Do Not Move.

Little blue heron with pencil-thin neck

dancing solo ballet for me.

Knee-deep in surf, head leading

deliberate, measured steps.

Exaggerates elevated toes, increasing pace

running across stage left to right,

unfolded wings flapping,

leaps unsupported, spins a three-sixty

alights delicately.

Pauses.

Pivots.

Poses.

Repeats dance identically,

this time right to left.

Sun descends, tide reaches high,

she circles me, ascends to fly. DUPED See them, river color, swimming leisurely, their bulging eyes above surface. Observe them, sprawled on beds of dry grasses along steep river banks, waddling in and out of fresh water, four-foot, ten-foot, fifteen-foot alligators whose habitat I am entering by kayak. Late afternoon, three robust strokes propel me onto shore of a windswept lake. My left foot almost touches the ground, my peripheral vision glimpses movement. Racing from the water on all four legs, his cavernous jaw displaying bone crunching teeth, high-speed swinging tail, hissing, grasses mashing between us. Heart thumping, trembling, vigilant, I fall backwards into my boat, and pull in the rope, safety vest, paddle. Gator pauses within reach of the bow, swivels, then bolts towards assertive tourists armed with cameras and surplus sandwiches clicking, tossing, laughing at gathering of mature alligators. Ignoring posted signs warning of provoked aggressions.