Leafy Sea Dragon

(fascinating creature to watch either in nature programmes, or in an aquarium)

In dreamy waltz of spiral turns

sedately drifting, floating free,

clad in a cloak of camouflage

this creature sails through salty seas.

Joined to its frame are lobes of skin

profuse protrusions all on show,

so fragile in their flimsy form,

like seaweed stirring to and fro.

Pectoral fins upon the neck

propel and steer an idle way,

entangling those who venture close

or in its pathway gently stray.

It has you fooled when you first look

appearing as a fine green lace,

on close inspection you can see

this life form has a tiny face.

In awe at such complexity

could such a thing be down to chance?

Is there a grand design at work,

or just a random cosmic dance?   

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A fish tank. Grandchildren can stare at for a long time. Fish have own life in their tank. I did like your description. You made me want to watch. Thank you Chris for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Coyote. Fascinating to watch. They are so graceful.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome dear Chris.

[DIVYA]

A very impressive description of the sea creature, Chris. You bring it to life on the page deftly with every stroke of your pen. It’s delicate beauty fully captured. The fourth verse is exceptionally lovely and the concluding verse raises a very valid point. I believe in God. To me there is nothing random in the Universe. Kudos!

DIVYA💕

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Divya. An old poem out for an airing.

Chris

[DIVYA]

I’m glad you brought it out Chris. :)

[Ted Kniffen]

Very well done, Chris. Of all the creatures I have been privileged to see in aquariums, it is not the largest or most dangerous that are fascinating, but the tiniest fish draw the eye. The North American sea dragon looks like a blade of seaweed and that's where it hides.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ted. They are wonderful to look at and do resemble seaweed.

Chris

[Lorry]

We know more about the stars and other planets than we know about our oceans. Ive always wondered why that should be. I bet if there was oil and we could profit from it, every inch would be covered.
But saying that, I wont even dip my toes in it for fear of all the things that bite and sting and want to eat us. The swimming knives even got Steve Irwin, and he was their pal. :)
it's the ones that come out after dark I like, the ones who will never be asked to the ball. If there is a creator, I reckon he was high when he made some of them. Must have been a bad batch of seaweed :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Lorry. Yes they are just like seaweed. You are right, we know very little about life in our oceans.

Chris

[andrew mitchell]

Like sea horses such elegant creatures Chris. Nicely written.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Andrew. Fascinating little creatures. So utterly graceful, could watch them for hours.

[George David Hope]

Took me back to when I was a little boy and we'd go to a local stream (river don) and watch the sticklebacks. Thanks for sharing and really liked the memories it conjured up

[Chris Shaw]

Happy George that my lines brought back some pleasant memories. Sticklebacks, I remember them too :) Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[LazerRays]

Oh how clever!!! Haha! I enjoyed the description and detail put into this. It's so fun to read a poem like this. I love fantasy so having this was awesome for me. The metaphor is cute too, had me grinning. Nice poem!!!

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you enjoyed Sarah. Thanks for your visit.

Chris

[john l smith]

A beauty.................

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Dave. The leafy sea dragon is certainly a beauty. Mesmerising to watch. They are so tiny they are mistaken for seaweed strands

Chris

Chrus