At Sea
Our long adventure is coming to an end; last night we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. We are now in the Atlantic Ocean heading back from whence we started, Lisbon. This morning there is gauzy mist atop a gray sea. Large freighters suddenly appear, pass us, then slowly dissolve into the fog. Birds circle the ship, full of hope for their empty stomachs. The occasional sea turtle raises its head in reptilian alarm, expressionless, alien, yet somehow I find it comforting, this evidence of their continued existence. All the while the Endeavour inexorably purrs along, slicing through a gentle swell, softly rocking, its easy motion just perfect for packing and reflection.
I continue to look at the sea. What’s down there? There is so much I don’t see. If I hang over the railing far enough though, I see myself. Hmmm, there’s a warning. Hey now, that’s something I know. It went by fast or we went by it, but that doesn’t matter. A jellyfish, a Cassiopeia jellyfish, completely unique, completely beautiful. It’s like a ship, as it often has passengers, young horse mackerel who seek to shelter within the protective shadow of fat tentacles with potent stings. Well now, I wonder if they noticed us before we too dissolved into the fog?
Our long adventure is coming to an end; last night we passed through the Straits of Gibraltar. We are now in the Atlantic Ocean heading back from whence we started, Lisbon. This morning there is gauzy mist atop a gray sea. Large freighters suddenly appear, pass us, then slowly dissolve into the fog. Birds circle the ship, full of hope for their empty stomachs. The occasional sea turtle raises its head in reptilian alarm, expressionless, alien, yet somehow I find it comforting, this evidence of their continued existence. All the while the Endeavour inexorably purrs along, slicing through a gentle swell, softly rocking, its easy motion just perfect for packing and reflection.
I continue to look at the sea. What’s down there? There is so much I don’t see. If I hang over the railing far enough though, I see myself. Hmmm, there’s a warning. Hey now, that’s something I know. It went by fast or we went by it, but that doesn’t matter. A jellyfish, a Cassiopeia jellyfish, completely unique, completely beautiful. It’s like a ship, as it often has passengers, young horse mackerel who seek to shelter within the protective shadow of fat tentacles with potent stings. Well now, I wonder if they noticed us before we too dissolved into the fog?
