We gather when the moon is hidden
in earth shadow, stand in a group to hear facts,
take advice, don life jackets that cover our
lungs,
our hearts.
We drive toward a cove at the
salt sea edge where the plankton proliferate,
persist in a small shallow bay with its twisted
neck
to the sea, its reef a wall that holds them
in. These
bright, tiny organisms, single cell, simple we call them,
beckon us to witness their wonder. Under wisps
of night light we load into kayaks, follow one
dim beacon. Only paddle sounds dipping, dripping,
pulling on water.
Last light tucks under the earth,
dark descends fully, fills the space that holds
us.
The enchantment begins. Under every boat
a lining of light, each paddle's dip is a brush
painting sparkle.
Even the fish surface
in small blue spotlights, descend exposed.
These uncountable beings dance ghostly
glimmering with every splash we make.
I sink my arm in the cool cove, skin glows
blue. Lift
lighted water in both cupped hands,
let it fall back twinkling into the bay, dots of
glitter
on my fingers, my palm -- I am holding starlight.
© Marti Snell, 2016
(Snell, Martha E.
“Dazzling Dinoflagellates.” Streetlight Magazine, Fall, 2016. Issue
No.19, Web 16 October. http://streetlightmag.com/2016/12/09/dazzling-dinoflagellates-by-martha-snell/) |
| Bioluminescent Algae at Vieques Bay, Puerto Rico courtesy of jenonajetplane.com |
