It’s Poetry Friday and this week I have been lucky enough that, in a week of lockdown, I have been able to keep up my beach walks in the one hour of exercise allowed. My beach is always beautiful, and always different – no two visits are the same.
This week, there were some special surprises. On Tuesday I had an amazing dolphin encounter (you can see some footage in my post below). And then, because I thought that couldn’t be topped, Wednesday brought an even bigger surprise – a seal! 
Yes, there s/he was, just a couple of metres offshore, splashing and fishing and generally being amazing. Again, you can see some footage in the post below.
So, when I sat down to try to draft a new poem for Poetry Friday, it isn’t surprising that at least one of these creatures had to feature – and, this time, it was the seal.
Sealing a Friendship 
I walked
you swam.
You waved
I waved back
the waves waved too.
I splashed for a closer look
you splashed
with joy.
You caught a fish
I caught your moves
on camera.
I strode
back along the beach
lighter for our meeting.
You swam away
heavy with fish.
I like to think
the smile beneath my mask
mirrored your smile
beneath the water.
(Poem copyright Sally Murphy, 2021)
Today’s Poetry Friday roundup will be hosted by Jone. Swim over there to see what goodies my poetic friends have shared today. I’ll pop in there too – after I’ve had my Friday walk where I know there’ll be more wonders. 
I recognize your current lockdown limitations Sally. A sense of deja-vu for me in your recounting of your decreased roaming of the world. Enjoyed your interactions with the natural world and the resultant poem captures many different elements in your present day life. You ‘unmasked’ so much with your words.
Thank you Alan. We in the West have been so fortunate in these difficult times.
I love “the waves waved too” and those two hidden smiles.
thanks Laura 🙂
I love the idea of mirrored smiles, Sally, under what hides them at the moment. 🙂
Are you in Perth by any chance? One of my sisters lives there and was just in lockdown this week as well…
Thanks Bridget. Not Perth, but south of there – so yes, the same lockdown. What a small world that your sister lives so close! I work in Perth so divide my time between there and home.
Sally, you are so lucky to have days like this and I love your connection with the seal in your poem. He had to be smiling with such a full belly!
Thank you Janice. I’m sure he was happy!
Oh what an encounter. I need to get to the coast and soon. Missing it. Thank you for sharing this moment.
Oh Jone, I do hope you get there soon. Beach therapy is magic. xx
I am envious that you have the beach & now a marvelous new acquaintance, “You waved/I waved back”. Love all the back & forth of your poem, Sally!
Thank you Linda. Sorry to make you envious 😉
O You, Caller of Creatures! Doesn’t surprise me at all that your hour respite is rewarded with sirens from the sea. I love everything about “Sealing a Friendship,” your videos & your dolphin who will have to wait for its PoemDay. {It’s super to know something of your Dalyellup Beach ~ such a name, that, with yell in it.]
Thank you Jan. Caller of Creatures – I love it 🙂
And yes, the ‘yell’ in the beach name (and my suburb) sometimes makes me smile. There have indeed been times when I’ve gone to the beach to have a little yell where no one can hear me but the sea 🙂
I love this!
Thanks Ruth 🙂
How wonderful! I would love to meet a seal along the beach to befriend as you have. I’m so glad you have your camera with you on your walks so that with the poem, we can feel like we’ve joined you in this friendship.
Thank you Linda. Knowing I get to share these experiences makes them even richer.
I love the reflection between you and the seal, waving and smiling across the waves.
Thanks Kay 🙂
And to think I was there….enjoying the moment.
Yes. Perhaps I should have mentioned my human and doggy friends 🙂
This made me smile all over again – after your poem, of course. Cute comment. 🙂 And love that you have reason to smile, even in lockdown.