First time in another world,
a magical low-tide place.
Barrier reef, bared each day,
encloses wandering sea turtles.
Alone at dawn, I smile as rounded gentle heads
break the surface, breathe, and disappear.
Stepping gingerly from dividing ledge
I ease myself into cool waters.
Push off, arms spread wide in wonder
head down with snorkel gear.
I float. Watching. Waiting . . .
in this absolutely quiet place.
Magnificent beings glide by,
slow motion ballet of graceful power.
Heads and legs, speckled green-browns,
protrude from massive solid backs.
Finning wide of me, angling below me
as if I am not there, yet I am. Mesmerized.
Occasionally one peers at me,
our eyes lock and I gasp within my soul.
I am afloat, savoring stillness,
experiencing a mystical time.
Kelly hosts Poetics today at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets, and asks us to write a narrative poem about a “first.” Photos: the “back yard” of a rental house we stayed at three times in Hawaii, the Big Island. Out of the way, it has its own “pool” of tropical fish, the body of water at the bottom of this photo. Dug by the owners, it has a wire mesh grate that allows the ocean in and out but keeps the amazing tropical fish they’ve stocked it with, within the pool. Snorkeling there was amazing too. I’m standing greeting the dawn…and the next body of water you see is what’s called Champagne Pond which snakes back, for quite some distance on the left, out of sight. You barely see the pile of rocks/barrier, exposed at low tide, separating the pond from the ocean proper. Two small photos, I took with a cheap, throw-away underwater camera. Large one is a postcard. We’ve not been back for many years but it is a “first” I shall never forget.
lillian the home poet 
Incredible spiritual experience; thanks for sharing. If you snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, beware of Great White sharks. Your couplets were each magical gems.
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Thank you Glenn, from Singapore! Just posted first poem from travel muse. 😊
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Wow what a magical place to be ~ And how amazing to see those creatures up close ~ I specially love how you described them:
Magnificent beings glide by,
slow motion ballet of graceful power.
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It was truly magical! Sorry for late reply — coming at you from Singapore😊. Just posted first travel muse poem. Today we took a wonderful cultural cooking class — and got to eat our efforts!
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Oh, this is beautiful, you made me feel as if I were there. What a lovely, wonderful “first”! Magical indeed.
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Apologies for late reply – happy to take you along for the swim! Am now in Singapore on 40 day trip of a lifetime. Sail to Bali on Monday. Just posted first travel muse poem — come join me😊
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What an amazing experience, Lillian! And I love the pictures.
I really like the way you introduced the ‘wandering sea turtles’ and I am there with you in the water, when you:
‘Push off, arms spread wide in wonder
head down with snorkel gear.
I float. Watching. Waiting . . .
in this absolutely quiet place.’
And I get a sense of wonder in:
‘Occasionally one peers at me,
our eyes lock and I gasp within my soul.’
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Ah Kim – you always give such thoughtful replies. Many thanks — from Singapore! 30+ hours getting here. We sail for Bali on Monday. Just posted first travel muse poem — come join me!
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I’m on my way!
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This is such a wonderful place you took me to.. to meet the gaze of a turtle… wow
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Thank you from Singapore! Happy to take you on the swim with me. 😊
Just posted my first “travel muse” poem. Don’t know if I’ll be able to follow dVerse prompts – but do hope you’ll join me.
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Nothing short of MAGICAL!
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Always happy to spread a little magic! Sorry for late reply — 30+ hours to Singapore. On the trip of a lifetime for 40 days. Just posted first travel muse poem. Come join me😊
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I love those moments floating in the ocean, witnessing life underwater. truly mystical. My first time was in Hawai’i as a teen–when it became a state. It’s changed so much.
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It truly was an experience I shall never forget. Just got first travel muse poem posted — Monday we sail for Bali. Don’t know if I can cue in on dVerse prompts — but do hope some will tune in every once in a while and travel with me! We attended a cultural cooking class today— so fun and informative and we got to eat our efforts!
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Sounds like a wonderful, magical experience.
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It was Indeed! Sorry for late reply. 30+ hours to Singapore – 40 day trip of a life time! Just did first travel muse poem😊. Come join me!
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Thank you for taking us snorkeling in this beautiful place, it is so amazing when you make eye contact in another world. Beautifully written and it brought back happy memories.
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Always happy to hand out happy memories!
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☺👍
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Thank you for sharing this experience. I was there with you, and in my own wonderful undersea memories. Beautiful as ever.
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Thank you from Singapore! Always happy to take folks along — especially swimming with these wonderful creatures!
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So so so very beautiful. This takes my breath away. I want to be there right now.
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Thank you from Singapore! Just posted first “travel muse poem.” Attended a wonderful cultural cooking class today — and we got to eat our efforts!
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Amazing experience. I think the eye contact would be phenomenal.
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Greetings from Singapore!! Yes — it was phenomenal indeed – almost spiritual floating on top of the water but being within this silent under water place with these amazing creatures!
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