The Otters

 

The Otters
As things were getting quiet at sunset and the tides were going out before a full moon tonight.
My Bonfire on the beach was alot of fun,friends had come and gone and laughed and we all ate.
Now our camp was empty,and snoring coming from the tents,as I tended the remaining small fire,
keeping night watch,making sure the dreams were of peace,and love,and safety...
and everybody got the rest they needed for tomorrow...of course.
The Tide will be all the way out in the morning and so many tidal pools to explore,shells to find for the kids.
The lessons they can learn tomorrow will stay with them forever we hope,hence our Coastal Camping trip.
With everything getting quite in camp,my thoughts returned to the pollution problem I saw today.
Oil residue on the rocks and some still in the sand,between the rocks,under a few of the larger ones.
Also there was some old fishing net scraps thrown down that we had picked up earlier,and disposed of.
Why do people leave their mess for everybody else,I wondered,sending my thoughts racing,closing my eyes.
I heard a small sound coming from the ocean,I looked up,but all I saw were ripples on the calm water.
I poked at the flames and made a few sparks fly toward the moonlit sky,ever upwards in a tiny spiral.
Then my name was spoken very softly,as if by a child,I was startled to think...
Had we left a kid in the water all this time...OMG!?!
As my eyes searched frantically for the voice in the water,a small head poked up to look right at me.
A Sea Otter was looking at me,softly whispering my name...I guess, so he won't wake anybody.
I walked to the waters edge to see what the otter wanted of me,and this was his reply to my question...

LonelySoul,I've heard of your works and your poem,
but please let us add what we can to your tome,
we have our little stories to tell of our own,
as for this Pacific Coast, our lives are Keystone,
without us this place will be barren,and waste,
no fish to chase for fun or taste,
or kelp just urchin and rocks,
no Help,just barnicles on the docks,
Please don't let them drill,off shore is not for the quest of oil,
Please don't let them spill,they break apart and waste our toil,
and not to sound like I'm just humping,it's Your cat waste that is dumping,
the parasites inside makes us all just want to hide,
and speaking of hides...
The Fur Trade has made us lost,we are the ones who paid the cost,
we lost our asses to cover yours,because humanity just has to be "The Boss"

Then his Mrs cut him off
and said with a gruff and did with a scoff,
"Please Excuse him, he means no harm,
but as you call it, we lost the farm,
Our Families,like Seals, have paid the price,
just as yours,for Human Rights how nice,
all we ask is just the same,
a place to live and pass our name,
fresh water and food and air for our lung,
is this too much to ask, or give to our young?
Even the Sharks, their decline is begining,
Humans want soup,so ships come "Finning"
Please Excuse Us,if we speak our mind,
but we've seen what some humans can leave behind...

Reviews

[justjenn_2u]

I find it interesting how you integrated a story into a poem. (This idea was unique and worked well).

Offshore drilling, we should stop, but when - I wonder myself.

I was happy to see you standing up for a cause, more people should!

Good job.