Great Barrier Reef
I travelled to the Great Barrier Reef,
A whale was offering day-trip adventures.
He swam very fast and the journey was brief,
But he did a breach and lost his dentures.
Lots of other seals were there,
And quite a few humans too.
There was insufficient coral to share,
It was busier than at London Zoo.
I swam around a bit of coral,
It sparkled in many hues,
If this poem had a moral,
It would be to avoid the queues.
poem by Sebastian Seal
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Fable of the Mermaid and the Drunks
All those men were there inside,
when she came in totally naked.
They had been drinking: they began to spit.
Newly come from the river, she knew nothing.
She was a mermaid who had lost her way.
The insults flowed down her gleaming flesh.
Obscenities drowned her golden breasts.
Not knowing tears, she did not weep tears.
Not knowing clothes, she did not have clothes.
They blackened her with burnt corks and cigarette stubs,
and rolled around laughing on the tavern floor.
She did not speak because she had no speech.
Her eyes were the colour of distant love,
her twin arms were made of white topaz.
Her lips moved, silent, in a coral light,
and suddenly she went out by that door.
Entering the river she was cleaned,
shining like a white stone in the rain,
and without looking back she swam again
swam towards emptiness, swam towards death.
poem by Pablo Neruda
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Fable Of The Mermaid And The Drunks
All those men were there inside,
when she came in totally naked.
They had been drinking: they began to spit.
Newly come from the river, she knew nothing.
She was a mermaid who had lost her way.
The insults flowed down her gleaming flesh.
Obscenities drowned her golden breasts.
Not knowing tears, she did not weep tears.
Not knowing clothes, she did not have clothes.
They blackened her with burnt corks and cigarette stubs,
and rolled around laughing on the tavern floor.
She did not speak because she had no speech.
Her eyes were the color of distant love,
her twin arms were made of white topaz.
Her lips moved, silent, in a coral light,
and suddenly she went out by that door.
Entering the river she was cleaned,
shining like a white stone in the rain,
and without looking back she swam again
swam towards emptiness, swam towards death.
poem by Pablo Neruda from Return of the Mermaid (Regresó la sirena) (1954)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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O Sailor, Come Ashore
O sailor, come ashore,
What have you brought for me?
Red coral, white coral,
Coral from the sea.
I did not dig it from the ground,
Nor pluck it from a tree;
Feeble insects made it
In the stormy sea.
poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti
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Mapping The Reef
It wasn't so long ago, that Google mapped the earth;
Now they are mapping the world, way below the surf.
Very soon, we'll all get the chance to virtually explore
The Great Barrier Reef, on the Pacific Ocean's floor.
Visitors will soon be able to explore the hidden depths,
Without all the aggro of getting their hair soaking wet.
Around the Great Reef, they will soon be able to roam,
Without ever having left the comfort of their cosy home.
They'll be able to explore the Reef on a computer screen;
Eco-tourism: they'll hit the very heights of going ‘green.'
By their virtual visit, The Reef won't be further disturbed;
But the visitor's excitement will be very seriously curbed.
Nothing can ever quite beat experiencing The Reef for real;
Nothing can ever replace the excitement, or the total thrill.
This massive coral reef, boasts so many amazing features;
It bursts with life, in the forms of both plants and creatures.
Being there, in person, you can watch the coloured fish hurtle,
And spot other creatures, such as, giant clams and sea turtles.
Nothing quite beats seeing it all with your very own eyes:
You'll experience the sheer wonder, and the adrenalin highs.
If visitors get the chance to experience The Reef ‘in the flesh',
By its outstanding beauty, they will not fail to be impressed.
To see The Reef, in real life, not everyone will get the chance,
But now, thanks to Google, we'll all be treated to a virtual glance.
poem by Angela Wybrow
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A Flower To Auroville Mother-92
Kodiroja(Coral vine, Antigonon leptopus)
White Coral Vine(Antigonon leptopus 'Alba')
I sowed in my childhood
Eager I waited and stood
You grew into my heart
High to the Lord's feet
As high As Him so good
I can feel Him pleased
Your floral aura filled
Pinkish bracts guarding
Subdued flowers smiling
Thickened greens appeased
Coral, grow fast and wild
Slender tendrils upward
Hearty leaves in bushes
My heart well in clutches
Viny coral, twist entwined
poem by Indira Renganathan
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Women are corals
A wave gathered wind, soared high,
And heaved afar on the coral, ashore.
It ebbed back, with memory of its touch.
The coral stood, unshaken, for another.
Women forget fast the past lovers.
28.01.2001, Pmdi
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Bottom Of The Reef (Nonsense Poem)
Way down under, the sea
the octopus danced with the squid
to the tune the mermaids played
I wanna play house with you.
The shark and the whale danced too,
everyone was having fun
as the mermaids played at the reef dance hall.
Opposites connect in funny ways
and the party was in full swing
when old Neptune swam in.
He grabbed Mrs Crab
and danced the boogie-woogie
as the mermaids played
I wanna play house with you.
As far as I know,
the mermaids are still playing
at the bottom of the reef
to everyone feeling lonely.
26 March 2011
poem by David Harris
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MINNIE & WILLIE (A Tale of Two Lovers)
Gather-round folks, hear this grand tale
Of how two unlikely lovers did meet
Of Minnie Minnow and Willie Whale
A great love that knew no defeat
She swam in a school, him in a pod
They met one fine day by a reef
Willie’s pod readied to migrate abroad
His great eye caught a glimpse ever brief
Minnie was a vision of grace and style
She smiled, splayed her delicate fins
It was young Willie she’d soon beguile
This is where our love story begins;
Love struck Willie come a courtin one day
Seaweed bouquet tucked under a fluke
Asked, Schoolmarm if Minnie could play
Willie hoped he’d not get rebuked
“Suppose its alright” said Schoolmarm
“Please get her back here by noon”
Minnie was taken by Willie’s naive charm
Clearly this mammal was no one’s buffoon
Fin-in-fluke they swam to a nearby lagoon
Began then a most beautiful romance
A sweet kiss they shared that forenoon
Destined were they to a lifelong dance
In time Minnie and Willie came of age
On bended tail Willie proposed
Lo! Both sets of parents flew into a rage
Knew not of the marriage presupposed
Panicked...Minnie burst into tears
Had no idea her parents would mind
Or that they might interfere
Insisting she only marry her kind
Pod asked Elder Whale who promptly said no
Losing hope young lovers went into despair
Till Willie grabbed Minnie, said “We’ll elope! ”
“Losing you Minnie I just could not bear”
Their journey began with a swim North to South
Migrating to warm waters of Captain Cook Bay
When Minnie tired she’d ride in Willie’s mouth
Willie assured, ”Hawaii’s not that far away”
Before long they arrived, whale 'n fish
Greeted by dolphins, turtle’s and rays
He looking handsome, she a fine dish
Welcomed by all, with sea flower leis
To say they were happy would be understated
It’s true, a new species of beings they did birth
They would no longer be shamed or berated
Their family did spread from Kona to Perth
Here ends this romantic tale
Of how two dissimilar beings found love
Of Minnie the Minnow 'n Willie the Whale
Indeed,
That's what fairy tales are made of
ROTMS
poem by Ray Lucero
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Over the coral sea
Above & below the coral sea
we don't condescend
with what's below
as tomorrow will be
another day
when we go
below the coral sea
The Red Sea
no, colours
a kaleidescope
of our spectrum
most miss
lest it's on tv.
We go do it
my mate and l,
the fish, the corals,
no need to bet
'cos one can see
that,
that mainly
covers our planet,
that which lies
beneath our sea
a beauty most never see..
poem by George BernardBloodyShaw
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The coral reef. The solidarity of tiny creatures creates rocks that often break ships.
aphorism by Valeriu Butulescu from Immensity of the Point, translated by Eva A. Ziem
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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30 (Vivekananda) The Rock at Cape Comorin
Swamiji had arrived
At the India’s tail end,
Cape Comorin by name,
Kanyakumari, by other name
In the sea shore temple there,
He prayed to Divine Mother.
From the shore he had a look,
And saw, at a distance, a big rock.
In the shark infested waters,
He courageously swam across,
And sat on the rock in meditation,
Keeping aside his emotion.
Across the roaring sea,
From the rock he could see
The places he had visited,
Wherever he had travelled.
A monk was dedicated to God.
In every soul there was God.
So, he was keen to look after
God the wicked, God the poor.
He took a bold decision
To serve God in man.
But how to get resources
For India to stand on its legs?
He saw America as a country
That can free India’s poverty,
Thro’ exchange of knowledge
On science and technology.
With this idea, from the rock,
He got up and swam back.
His journey started again
Towards northern region.
To eat, when nothing he had
Someone gave him food.
As if directed by God
To share the donor’s food.
Not willing to be a burden
On any of those poor men,
Better to starve, he decided
When there was no food.
He went to the forest
To sit and meditate,
And there came a tiger
With its own hunger.
Swamiji said, “Oh tiger,
We both sit here in hunger.
Let my body be your food
If you find this good.”
God’s will was otherwise.
The hungry tiger, in silence,
Turned back and went away,
Sparing his precious life that day.
poem by Rajaram Ramachandran
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Coral lips dissolve
austral barrier griefs,
lifelong puzzles solve.
haiku by Jonathan Robin (04 March 2002)
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A Dream In Atlantis
In the distance you notice a flickering light.
It grows brighter and larger as you slice your
way through the cold water.
What can it be?
Soon a glowing coral reef reveals itself.
You can almost compare the light it emits to daylight,
so strong is it.
Much to your astonishment you find
the reef molded into what seems to be buildings.
There are arch ways,
what seems to be windows and wait...
what’s that?
A person?
You’ve spotted a merman!
Someone like you now.
And there are more of them!
They notice you and suddenly
several of them torpedo towards you at great speed.
For the first time in your dream
you are frightened.
They come bearing smiles however,
each one of them funneling around you
as they swim up,
twisting their bodies around yours
without touching you
and finally halting above
of you as they conclude
what seems to be a greeting.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Three Movements
SHAKESPEAREAN fish swam the sea, far away from land;
Romantic fish swam in nets coming to the hand;
What are all those fish that lie gasping on the strand?
poem by William Butler Yeats
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Serenity
Two dolphins swam, as dolphins do,
United, side-by-side,
Despite the fact that they could view
The ocean clear and wide...
Togetherness, just as you please,
Serenity within...
That's why they swam in perfect peace,
For now, no race to win...
This was their time, in aqua light,
So tranquil, full of calm,
Engulfed in fathomless insight,
As if it were their balm...
Alone, yet not afraid to be,
Alone, yet gliding on,
Alone, yet graceful, fancy-free,
As if all cares had gone...
To simply let the world pass by,
Like dolphins have before,
Serenity some humans try,
Yet there's a fatal flaw...
Why envy dolphins of this Earth
As creatures to admire?
For dolphins have no God to serve,
No Heaven to aspire...
Denis Martindale, copyright, September 2011.
The poem is based on the magnificent painting
by Stephen Gayford called 'Serenity'.
More Stephen Gayford poems here:
denis-martindale-dot-blogspot-dot-com
poem by Denis Martindale
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A Journey
I went upon a journey
Set out to find myself.
I wandered long and lonely
My steps were onward bent.
I searched in every cranny
To find what I had lost
Searched every hill and valley
No matter what it cost.
I looked in highest heaven
Amongst the silver stars
And in the great deep oceans
In all the coral bars.
Across the dry baked deserts
Where great rivers once had flowed,
Upon the flat and fertile plains
Where natures bounty glowed.
It seemed I couldn't find me,
No matter where I looked.
So slowly back I travelled
Dissappointment I had brooked.
My heart and mind were heavy
I cried deep in sombre gloom
I thought my time was wasted
I should have stayed at home.
It was just then it hit me
Right between the eyes
The me I gone in search of
Those many years ago
Was hidden deep inside me,
But I just didn't know.
P H Brookes Copyright 2011
poem by Paul Brookes
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I knew what my times were and how my practices were progressing and how close I was to the goals I had set for the year. I swam hard. I always swam hard. If I didn't, I knew I would pay for it either the next day or the next meet.
quote by Debbie Meyer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Abandon to Physical Sensation
And I swam and swam and dived
into the waves and rode them out
and tumbled about and became a
water sprite and rolled over and
over in the shallow water and ran
into the waves, splashing up a
wide new ball-room dress, beautiful
circles of diamond glitter in the sun,
diving into the cool water again and
changing into a dolphin, water my
natural medium, experiencing sensory
ecstasy, swimming fast and deep,
feeling the delicious fatigue, turning
over and becoming one with the foam,
bubbling with the wave crest, in total
abandon to physical sensation…
poem by Louise Tredoux
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