The Ocean's Bounty

The salt air kissed my face,
the breath of the sea
thrown up by
the lap of the waves.

The boat sailed on
as I watched the horizon.

Day waning, the sun burned low,
the afternoon sweltered aglow.

I scanned the water
looking for telltale lines
of white, the sign of the reef.

Relief, pearly brine on port side,
I swung the tiller and set my sights
on that salty singing maelstrom.

As the anchor descended
I stared through azure aqua,
once it bit, grabbing my spear gun
I dropped silent into the blue.

I placed my face in the water,
lifted my head, then counted...
one, two, three deep breaths,
calm like water in the bay
at the end of the day.

I strapped my goggles on
and took the plunge.

Beaked parrot fish sailed by
as I sank slowly like a stone.
Mirror-scaled Jacks
hugged reef wall drop-off,
moray smiled gaping gap-toothed
grins from cracks in the corral.

I set off into the turquoises sheen,
sailing through this garden
of bright corral cauldrons
and soft coral trees.
Hunting in the drift
of tidal memories.

The Ocean's Bounty is a poem which employs various free-verse poetic techniques such as in-line rhymes, alliteration, assonance and experimentation with language/grammar.

It is also a persona poem, a type of poetry where you take on the mind-set of another person, or even as some poets have attempted an object.

In the case of 'The Ocean's Bounty' it is inspired by my own scuba diving adventures, knowledge and love of tropical reefs. I have also been spearfishing in Belize, a somewhat dangerous undertaking as the local bull sharks are known for stealing spear fishers catches.

Although this didn't happen to me, I was told “just give up the fish and the shark will leave you alone” 🦈😂

These experiences have gifted me the memories to write this poem from the perspective one of the many tribes of South East Asian sea gypsies, some of whom subsists by free diving on reefs and spear fishing for their daily meals.

Thanks for reading 😉 🌿

CC license Media used:

Thumbnail:
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-reef-fish-ocean-sea-8328042/
Video:
Video by Alexander Bobrov: https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-tracking-of-a-wooden-motor-boat-used-for-fishing-3277598/
Video by Adrien JACTA: https://www.pexels.com/video/school-of-fish-in-the-deep-blue-sea-5358755/
Video by Vladimir Koshenkov: https://www.pexels.com/video/man-snorkeling-underwater-4612115/
Video by Tom Fisk: https://www.pexels.com/video/variety-of-fishes-under-the-deep-ocea-1457037/
Video by Gram Film: https://www.pexels.com/video/dropping-an-anchor-at-sea-2850617/
Video by Tom Fisk: https://www.pexels.com/video/fish-and-turtle-under-the-sea-1151962/
Music: