Blackfish

so named for your color -

a tribal contrast of black on white

there is no killer in you

only instinct steeped in curiosity 

 

it is said that the high-reaching sail 

of your dorsal fin tells the future

an antenna to heaven     dial stuck on holy

and even though your eyes are our eyes

whispering a story with phrenic silence 

we are blinded by greed and the tin-can rattling

of our own unrelenting indifference

 

i would have liked to have met you

someplace else     beyond this glass prison

before insanity turned you against yourself

and gave the world unpaid ammunition 

to say that you had an agenda

beyond the natal thirst

to live free

Reviews

[rhythm&blues]

Indifference is a killer, such a sad poem, being caged, never to know freedom is the worst of all evils. Nicely penned.

[Mark]

I've come to agree with you. Aquariums are too high a price to pay just for people to get a glimpse of these creatures. They should be returned to their homes.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Glad you got this one, Mark. Thank you.

[icelandicblue]

We come from the water, kindred spirits, but no spirit deserves to be trapped in a glass box. I avoid all zoos, aquariums and things like sea world they break my heart. My class wrote an opinion piece, should there be zoos, the research alone would keep most of us up at night. That dorsal fin should be free to feel the future, to know there is a future only then can it tell the future. Freedom is the holiest of holy.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you, my friend!

[Anand Sehgal]

it is said that the high-reaching sail

of your dorsal fin tells the future

an antenna to heaven dial stuck on holy


i would have liked to have met you

someplace else beyond this glass prison

before insanity turned you against yourself



these images tell that you are coming out of a suffocating phase. your style has changed a bit. It is very good, but wouldn't rate as your best :) but I'm sure you'll be in full flow very soon

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Well, we're always changing, aren't we? If we remained in one place for too long, we would grow roots and become stagnant. :)

[Anand Sehgal]

yes for sure.. don't take my words as criticism dear.. I just said it in a tone of peer review ! :)
take care

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm sorry if I came across as anything but slightly sarcastic in my response...I never take offense to reviews. That's the beauty of poetry, some people love it and some people hate it. I also think that all good poets go through periods of style change, and sometimes readers are receptive and sometimes they aren't. I'm happy with your review and your constructive criticism. Always :)

[Anand Sehgal]

you are fine :) I thought that I was too much perhaps :)

[Zackery Alan Daley]

Seems to be about the demonization of Orca Whales unless I am misreading. Also the imprisonment of them. Great story, linear enough to get the point but not direct enough to make me feel like I am stupid.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

You are far from stupid...I'm glad you got this one.

[Troy Henson]

The Killer Whale is such a wonderful animal that shows grace, strength and power. Misunderstood and often criticized due to the so called experts wanting to store these creatures in captivity to thrill an audience. They were not put on this earth for this nor should they be kept this way. Fee Willy I say!

Wonderful piece Sarah.

Regards
Troy

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Glad you liked this one, Troy :)

[K. Louis]

Killer whales have always been my favorite.

[Ruth]

The whale is such a totem of empathy and wisdom, not surprising it would bestow such words of knowledge, beautiful!

[Mizo4]

Nice write
brings some neat imagery to mind of instict and animalistic nature to my mind.
i hope you are having a great day