(FP’ed 3:45 AM, September 23, 2007. – promoted by exmearden)
The outdoor tank serving as the home for a family of harbor seals was relatively quiet. Only a few straggling tourists wheeling strollers filled with cookie-crunching toddlers were pointing fingers at the slowly lolling seals.
The very oldest, Smoke, swam by, her blue-white cataract eyes open, and her well-worn pattern through the water predictable and safe. Always safe. She glided to the far end of the tank and diffidently sank to the bottom where sleep awaited.
One of her offspring stood silent sentry upright in the water above her. As vigilant and expressionless as a Buckingham Palace guard, his gaze never faltered, his posture never changed.
A man rapped on the glass. “Is that seal dead?” he asked his mate, both dressed in the uniform of the day – tee shirts bearing garish signage covering overhanging bellies, blue jeans never intended to serve as work clothes, and athletic shoes which will never be worn for athletics.
As if in acknowledgment, Smoke wafted a flipper, subtly turned her head and drifted upwards. Released from duty, her now-elderly son glided off after bestowing his mama with a graceful somersault.
Smoke stretched her torpedo torso and aimed among the rocks at the bottom. Usually bare except for some waving sea grass and sea weed, today she stopped short.
There, feeling and tasting and exploring the bottom on particular, discerning feet was the loveliest of blue lobsters! Two elegant, foot-long feelers oh-so-slightly tapped and tested and tuned. Mitten claws were slightly open. No aggression, but instead, the goat-like browsing of the flora of the bottom of the green fringed tank.
The lobster, all glistening and gleaming with the many hued brilliant blues of lapis lazuli, watched Smoke watch him. They were two creatures with blurry, hazy gazes sizing up one another. Friend? Foe? Partner? Alien? Neighbor?
Lapis Lazuli extended a feeler, then took a small, careful, deliberate step toward Smoke.
Entranced, Smoke remained prone, her face intently watching the movements of the lobster engaged in his own chorus line of feet, expertly coordinated and timed in a complex dance.
The lobster approached a bit more briskly now. Straight on, forward, but with mittens still soft, slightly ajar, inquisitive, a bit unsure, but not afraid.
Smoke waited patiently. She, of course, was to be greeted and feted, as was her due, being the wise and old Smoke seal.
The blueness dazzled, and even Smoke was impressed by the radiance of the blue shell. A feeler extended, rose and delicately fell to touch – just so – the end of Smoke’s nose.
She acknowledged the greeting with a flick of whisker and stillness.
Lapis continued. Two feelers tapped, tapped, tapped, “Hello!” The chorus of nimble legs and feet beat out a welcoming tattoo. The rhythm of the dance was mesmerizing.
The blue and the grey enjoyed their private moment of kairos. Then they drifted apart, each returning to a separate world in the tank. Smoke sleepily returned to her fellow family of seals sleeping in heaps in a corner of the tank.
Lapiz Lazuli, flush with the success of a new friend found, continued on his exploration, and he next turned his attention to the rocky wall of the tank. Bravely, courageously, he headed straight up the wall, legs gaining a purchase among the mossy crevasses.
As he gained the summit, he took time to award himself with lovely bits from the waving green fauna surrounding him. After a savored meal, he peered over the edge of the ledge, lifted up his carapace and plunged downward. Bold. Unafraid. Master of his world.
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diversion to accompany your Saturday morning coffee.
You know I’m going to have qualms now next time we go to Wheeler’s.
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Mumbling to myself again-
A large blue lobster has to have something special on the ball as blueness is a quality that stands out. Standing out for a lobster instead of wearing the usual Darwin-approved camo is most often fatal. Largeness in a lobster is a factor of age. Lapis Lazuli is an example of a wily and wise lobster.
Smoke, a vintage 1971 harbor seal, has outlived her species’ upper limit by many years (25 years being considered a grand grand dame). She is the queen – greyed, slower, wizened, and still the matriarch of her family.
That both species have poor eyesight, yet,so clearly see in relating to each other’s strangeness and learning to approach, communicate and reach mutual acceptance nonviolently, is the subtext, but I don’t think I addressed it enough to lift it from the much-too-murky depths.
Lobsters are known for their grumpiness – and even cannibalism. Friendliness is not a lobster quality. Solitude is the lobster’s usual way of life. Seeking companionship in an inter-species relationship is, well – far out even when far under.
Seals, known for inquisitiveness and curiosity – somewhat canine-like in their affinity for toys, games and play, could be forgiven if they decided that lobsters were good for tossing, instead of for communicating.
That no one raised a claw, pincer or flipper in anger, defensiveness or aggression goes to the other species as teacher and the top ‘o the food chain as the weakest link, but still having potential as reader/learner.
Two worlds within the same small tank. Multiple cultures sharing.
It’s a small world. Seal tank and planet blue marble.
Kumbaya. In Gullah, re-purposed from the phrase, “come by here, my lord.”
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. I guess some species preach the gospel of peace by example. *g*
see that piece by David Attenborough I think? An army of the buggers skittering across the ocean floor. I wonder where Cheney vacations? I see General Lob S.Ter with megaphone, urging his legion to ” remember to go for his… softer side!”
because if you don’t, you should. I truly appreciate writers who transport me to wherever they are through their imagery – and I was definitely there.
Very nice canvas you paint with your words. I also was in the tank as a fascinated onlooker. I see these parables of life on a daily basis in my numerous reef tanks. You`re invited to come & see my specimens of mystery at my blog. I post daily & 75% of my posts are reef & coral related. I completely understand the almost guilty feeling of looking in on another world.
Great writing.
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