Night Swimmer (Sea Turtle)

Look!

A deep-time, deep-water traveler has reached this city’s shore

She returns, crossing an ocean of hardships to surface where waves withdraw.

Listen!

What wishes, what warnings do you bring, night-swimmer?

What perils - the whale pods, the ghost-nets - have you seen as you explore?

Tell us, tell us, tell us

What weight must you carry on your back now,

more than barnacles and sea-sparkle? What gave you those scars?

I hear your questions, your interrogations; do you still welcome me here?

My home is the body and ocean I move in; do you stil welcome me?

By birthright I run to this beach each year, long before you species arose. I’ve seen the currents changing as I’ve watched you move from stone tools to fossil fuels, hunter-gatherer.

Should I tell you of the wide maws of trawl nets I must cross? Should I tell you the dark ceilings of oil I swim beneath? Can you hear me?

We followed you into ocean to learn its routes, our teacher, you vanish at our peril as well as yours.

Still we rob, hurt and harm your kind; still you return, humble and wise.

Still haul yourself trustingly ashore through darkness; here, now, evermore. As beaches shrink, as sea rises, as storms roar.