A busy week, and updates still to come on the bits that are writerly, but in the meantime, here is a glimpse under the sea. Look for the octopus in the first few seconds.
Poetry Friday: Lurkers and Liquid Wonder
In case you’ve not noticed, I have been taking every opportunity to get into the water and snorkel. In spite of my great love of the beach and of swimming, until last year, I had never been snorkelling, and so it is a fresh, exciting hobby.
This week, I got up early and went for a pre-work dip at Omeo Wreck, one of my favourite spots. Great for a beginner like me, but also always something new. I spotted a spotted leatherjacket and followed it for a while. When it stopped under a little arch of wreckage, I took the opportunity to practice my new diving skills, took a breath, aimed my gopro and swam down.
I knew I had the fish in shot, but it wasn’t till later, at home, that I was able to check it. I then took a still shot from the footage, and shared it with friends on facebook. I’m glad I did – because a friend pointed out something I had missed. I wonder if you can see it in the moving footage – which is the view I had in the water:
Did you spot it? The photobombing lurker? If not, don’t feel bad – because I didn’t see it either.
Here’s the still shot:
copyright Sally Murphy, 2021
If you still can’t see it, look at the sand on the right. Sand with eyes? And a sinister grin?
Now I don’t know if Mr Flathead was thinking of eating Ms Leatherjacket for dinner, and I can reassure you that when I left, the leatherjacket was still very happily swimming around, but I knew there was a poem in this.
Welcome
Come right in!
Come right in!
You’ll feel welcomed
By my friendly grin.
Can’t see my smile?
You soon will
When I open wide
To let you in!
(Poem copyright Sally Murphy, 2021)
Not to be outdone, my follow-up trip the next morning proved to be even more amazing, though I have not yet captured the poems for this breathtaking octopus encounter:
At the end of this video, you might sense that, while awestruck by the octopus, I was being increasingly aware of what was happening behind it. I spent the next 15 minutes floating and wondering and nearly crying with the joy of this:
I’ve been trying ever since to find the words to capture these amazing moments, so watch this space.
In the meantime, today’s Poetry Friday has lots of Poetry Goodness. Swim over to Heidi’s blog where, she is not only hosting the roundup but also all the Poetry Friday posts but also celebrating her birthday.