Do whales think in blue

Then I touched the wetted skin
fletching thoughts
the pod’s skittish deference
a line of sight

If I’d said I loved you
there where ancient sands
kissed at my toes
keys through ribbon to paper

Or the taste of shortbread
a slow melt of lemon myrtle
old mills in renovation
a scalloped turn of edges

We pushed the clumsy calf
shoving with our backs
until the sea opened its palms
in sudden rolling eptitude

There was nothing left to be
our feet squeaked on the beach
laughing with our sonar code
we shook hands with the sun.

First published in Bluepepper

Arthur Boyd ‘Shoalhaven’

2 thoughts on “Do whales think in blue

  1. “until the sea opened its palms
    in sudden rolling eptitude…”

    Yes! You capture how deft and inevitable nature’s ways are, with or without us and whether or not (or how!) we decide what to do or be. A fantastic poem, James! 🐳

    Liked by 1 person

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