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Sally Murphy, Australian author

Poetry Friday: A lesson from ray

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Last week was a busy one.

I spent most of the week on beautiful Rottnest Island (more correctly called Wadjemup) off the coast of Perth, researching, writing but also swimming and snorkelling. There is always plenty to see under the sea, but my favourite encounter was with an Eagle ray which I spotted within moments of entering the water and followed, Gopro outstretched, but also with my heart full. What a privilege to watch this beauty dance and skate and then, just as I was about to leave it be, I watched as it dug intently, I assume looking for a tasty tidbit. If you look you should spot the fish lurking behind, apparently waiting for the scraps.

Afterwards, I wanted to write about the encounter, but nothing came. Nor did it when I first posted the edited video on Monday, but later I started thinking about the other lovely did thing I did last week – which was to attend my nephew’s wedding back in Perth.

It was a joyful occasion (as weddings should be) and, after the young couple took to the dance floor,  I found myself dancing with a young man who was a much more competent dancer than I. My initial reaction was to feel awkward that I didn’t know the steps. But I fumbled through and soon found myself laughing and having fun.  And isn’t that the point of dancing?

So here’s the poem I’ve drafted trying to capture those two moments:

A Lesson

On Tuesday

I float above a ray

as she dances

and dips.

A graceful dancer

not caring

who sees.

No need for a partner

a witness

or even a tune

played

anywhere but inside her.

On Friday

I watch dancers

at my nephew’s wedding

and

when I am drawn onto the floor

feel momentarily awkward –

I don’t know the steps

or the tune.

But as I move

I feel the joy

of being alive

and think

for a moment

of my ray.

(Sally Murphy 2024)

I think my ray will appear again in my writing, but for now, I feel glad to share her with you. And, speaking of sharing, today’s Poetry Friday roundup is hosted by Linda, who also has an important reminder about the choices we are making every day.  Among other things, I’m choosing to spread poetry, in the hopes of making the world a better place, and am off to see what my other Poetry Friday friends are sharing today.

Comments

  2. Wow. Last night I saw salamanders in their first-home vernal pool. Today, a ray, dancing underwater. So much beauty and diversity in this world!

    Love how you linked the wedding and the ray in your poem.

  3. ‘…or even a tune
    played
    anywhere but inside her. ‘
    These are my favourite lines from your poem of dance, Sally!
    Thanks for writing it. X

  4. The ‘marriage’ of these two events has been woven together with fine stitching, Sally. You showed patience in your writing process and it has delivered you this poem that dances with delight down the page. Well done, you!

  5. This is my favorite kind of story–when there are threads that unexpectedly weave together. What a great poem. That ray really was an awesome inspiration. I love your snorkel videos.

  7. Thanks for sharing Ray with us Sally, what a marvelous swim you both had and serendipitously, we had too! I’m glad you let the thoughts of Ray linger and resurface later— Sometimes we need that space, to be with something for a bit, and then it all comes together beautifully as your poem has, I look forward to Rays revisit, thanks!

  8. I love the video – such a graceful creature! The connection you found between the ray and the dancing is wonderful. Thank you for sharing both.

  9. Sally, your proficiency with underwater photography amazes me. It must have been elating to see the ray and follow him in his gentle movement in his home below the surface. As I watched I kept thinking about the dance then realized that is where you were going with the rest of your blog. Lovely, uplifting lines:
    But as I move

    I feel the joy

    of being alive

    • Thank you Carol. You are very kind, but the camera technology makes it easy. I am basically just holding it and following the things I see. Glad you connected with the dance analogy.

  10. Sally, I freaking LOVE this poem! What a beautiful leap between the ray and humans… please consider sending it to the poetry journal where I serve as poetry editor…I think the rest of our team would really dig it as well! https://birminghamartsjournal.com/

    • Oh wow Irene. Thank you – that is high praise indeed. I have gone ahead and submitted it – thank you for the encouragement.

  11. W O W. I love thinking that it’s a normal part of your life to do what is a peak single experience of mine–snorkeling in Australia. Your ray is so graceful, of course, but then I saw how she downs tail to brake on the sand, then reverses like a lorry to dig in for dinner. I believe we all are born to dance, even those of us who feel uncertain at first. Look at this from my Kindergarten teaching days, that popped up for me yesterday! https://photos.app.goo.gl/ynzhfzSPaqfynUjC7

    • Oh Heidi I love this video – the modelling you are doing and the way each child is dancing, even singing, in their own way. SO much joy in that clip. Thank you for sharing.

  12. I’ve told friends about your ‘gopro’ movies, Sally, and love that you’ve shared another, this about this fabulous Ray! And it’s wonderful to see that connection from your experience in the water to the time dancing. No matter the worry, joy is the answer! I haven’t been to a wedding in a long time and it sounds lovely! Thanks for a thought-filled post!

  14. What a great video! I love how you found the common thread between these two occasions and celebrated it in your poem. Here’s to dancing with “the joy of being alive!

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