Written for Linda’s prompt at dVerse Poets Poets Pub. She pulls six random quotes from Neruda’s book of questions and asks us to pick one and write a poem about it. I picked “Who sings in the deepest water in the abandoned lagoon?” An ocean lovers and a very amateur ocean biologist, I could not resist.
The Choir
“I try to catch at many a tune Like petals of light fallen from the moon, Broken and bright on a dark lagoon, But they float away – for who can hold Youth, or perfume or the moon’s gold?” Sara Teasdale
who sings in the deepest water in the abandoned lagoon?
in the abandoned lagoon there is a choir singing,
they lift their voices,
that drifts in the wind and waves –
sea turtles and sea horses,
manatees and pink shrimp,
crabs and red fish and pompano.
they drift and forage among the sea grass
and sing their own unique songs.
a sea turtle picks up a bit of sea glass
and deposits it at the edge of the gentle waves,
an offering for those few humans that walk
along the edge of the water.
if you listen
you will hear their voices.
soft and tranquil –
singing for the benign humans
who listen and leave
taking the piece of sea glass in their pocket,
a treasure to be placed on a shelf
catching the sun and bringing back memories
of the songs that only lone creatures can make.

Indian River Lagoon and Pelican Island
Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:05:41
I really love the way you describe the sea-life that a passing human only can see in the sea-glass they keep… I love sea like this.
Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:41:08
Thank you!
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Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:22:30
Another beautiful voice from the abandoned lagoon, Toni! I like the list of creatures that can be found there drifting and foraging among the sea grass, especially the turtle and its gift of sea glass.
Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:40:43
Thank you Kim. Years ago over the ciurse of three summers, I took ocean biology courses at Duke University, because I love the ocean so much. They have a huge aquarium in Morehead City and several campuses devoted to marine engineering, saving the dunes, etc. There are many more creatures in the lagoons along the NC coast. It was a joy.
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Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:57:17
We don’t have any lagoons along the Norfolk coast. They sound wonderful.
Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:31:00
so much life in your lagoon and I love all the sounds
Oct 22, 2019 @ 16:41:40
Thank you
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Oct 22, 2019 @ 17:24:03
Gorgeous Toni!
Oct 22, 2019 @ 18:21:02
Can a sea be pastoral? I think it can. A calming poem, where the end adds a touch of melancholy.
Oct 22, 2019 @ 19:55:13
This is really beautiful!
Oct 22, 2019 @ 20:34:35
I love those voices –
soft and tranquil –
Oct 22, 2019 @ 20:40:38
i hear angels’ choir while up high in the mountains. Now, thanks to you, I will hear a critter’s chorale each time I pass a lagoon.
Oct 22, 2019 @ 22:07:31
How lovely to hear the voices of angels in the mountains
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Oct 22, 2019 @ 20:53:29
Excellent Toni. I really enjoyed your presentation of the journey of the sea glass.
Oct 23, 2019 @ 06:02:28
I’m with you in your lagoon, hearing all the near-silent echoes that fill the air. So lovely.
Oct 23, 2019 @ 11:05:40
a choir singing,
they lift their voices,
that drifts in the wind and waves….
then the list of voices and the ending of treasured memories in sea glass. Made sigh in contentment.
Oct 23, 2019 @ 12:18:17
Thank you!
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Oct 23, 2019 @ 12:25:25
Thank you!
Oct 23, 2019 @ 12:16:27
What a beautiful choir and lovely song, Toni! Leaving tokens for us too.
Oct 23, 2019 @ 12:19:01
Thank you Lynn. Nature is like that!
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Oct 23, 2019 @ 13:21:20
I like the idea of the many inhabitants in chorus…and of course sharing their treasures. If only we embraced the sea as it embraces us. (K)
Oct 23, 2019 @ 13:26:50
If only
Oct 23, 2019 @ 14:57:54
I’ve always found underwater life to be fascinating and magical. You brought the sweetest life with the music 🙂