Our poet, Alison Smith, in a comment, pointed out to me that dolphins have a shortage of pockets, and that is why I'm holding her personally responsible for this poem (in the friendliest of all possible ways).
Why do I lay awake at night
thinking thoughts I don't invite.
I wish to cast aside debates,
that my troubled mind so hates.
Who cares where he keeps his change,
upon a transaction or exchange?
But the thought persists. I cannot block it.
A dolphin has no pocket.
What I Love – The Midnight Garden
Beneath the silver hush of moonlit air
The garden breathes with jasmine’s secret bloom,
Soft petals tremble, fragrances laid bare,
They weave enchantments in the quiet gloom.
The roses bow, their crimson hearts awake,
While lilies glisten on the mirrored lake.
The stars lean closer, whispering to the earth,
In darkness, blossoms find their truest worth.
What I Hate – The Plastic Tide
Upon the shore, the ocean beats her song,
Yet plastic shards invade her foaming breath,
They choke the waves that carried myths so long,
And stain her womb with fragments born of death.
The dolphins weave through broken glass in pain,
The seabirds starve where poisoned shells remain.
I rage against the greed that drowns the seas,
The world’s own hands unmake her harmonies.
Dozen divers delicately drop dinner,
Diving dolphins, dash, dart... devour delicious discovery.
Dolphins delightfully dance.
Divers decide dolphins deserve dessert,
Dolphins dig deep dividing delights.
Don't distract!
dolphins have a sense of play that resonates with me
A spirit of joy and excitement
A childlike innocence
They take care of each other
Appear to share private jokes
I picture myself swimming with them
But then I remember I would be terrified
I am scared to death of the ocean
I have seen the movie Jaws, haven’t I?
dolphins advanced
beyond our understanding
~ unworthy humans
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Beneath the palm trees, Santa sighed, forlorn,
His sleigh stuck fast, his reindeer worn and still.
The Florida sun rose bright that Christmas morn,
A far cry from the frosty North Pole's chill.
The elves devised a clever, timely scheme:
They called on dolphins to replace the sleigh.
With flippers strong, they swam like in a dream,
And Santa laughed, "We'll save this Christmas Day!"
Through waves they flew, with gifts for every child,
A coastal cheer spread warmth both near and far.
Santa proclaimed, his heart and face beguiled,
“Even the tropics can't outshine our star!”
Silver arcs of joy,
Through endless blue, they whisper—
Dreams of brighter seas.
Intelligent freshwater sprinters
Old boat, time-worn path,
Dolphins glide through emerald waves,
Leaping side by side—
Their joyous dance in the mist,
Paints the sea with morning bliss.
Dazzled by something worth comparing; our friendships common majesty
Offers without warning while in unfamiliar waters; we may both be
Lost in foggy noise; we are individuals; of sound triviality
Passing millions of years since our divergency
Horrific is our view; it is found of your arrogancy
Inside minds the size of yours, love grows the same, developmentally
NO, we see in black and white; squandered, you are a gifted tragedy
Save my bottled nose will never understand; the pineapple mess outside; that is sweet within humanity
Beneath the sun-kissed sky of Coastal California's domain,
Where Pacific waves meet the land, an eternal refrain.
Golden shores stretch along the rugged terrain,
A canvas painted with nature's utmost pertain.
Majestic cliffs rise with stoic grace,
Overlooking the ocean's vast embrace.
Seagulls glide on the breeze, a ballet in the air with grace
As the salty mist weaves tales without balance.
Beneath the azure sky, dolphins play,
With joyful leaps and flips, they lead the way.
Silhouetted against the sky so sunny,
Their laughter echoes, in a complete harmony.
Whales, majestic giants of the deep,
Gracefully traverse the waters, secrets to keep.
In rhythmic dance, their tails let tales slip,
Of distant journeys and ancient trails to keep.
Surfers ride the waves with skill and grace,
Chasing the rhythm of the ocean's embrace.
As the swell rises and the tide pulls in balance,
They become one with nature, in the Pacific’s embrace.
If I'm not home for Christmas
And I've lost my heart at war
Just know that I'll be there with you, my love
From heaven...for evermore
By chance I cross the oceans
And see dolphins swim with glee
I'll find the brightest star at night
And bring it home for you and me
We'll sit upon its fingers
And watch the mornings light
And when the evenings sun sets down
We'll go back there again at night
Just know that I'll be there with you, my love
And I'll be with you...for evermore
By chance the dolphins swim alone
And I lose my heart at war
*Dedicated to all the soldiers and heroes at war who have sweethearts and wives at home.
sun's wrath red rimmed blaze
bathers bronzed
dolphins arcs graceful
Precariously poised on
the precipitous precipice,
I pondered whether a nose-dive plummet
into the whirlpool lagoon below
was prudent, well-advised and provident.
But the angry impassive persona,
of the ever so cross porpoises,
seen purposefully prancing there
gawking up at me,
persuaded me to prudently,
postpone the plunge.
dolphins chatter
within the silver waves
beneath the sun
swiftly approaching
speed boat
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