323.
The Whale Shark: A Treasure
Behold the Whale Shark, the largest fish!
Though it's fleshy, it's not right for our dish
Having the name of a whale, it sounds great in size
Having the name of a shark, it looks fearful in the eyes
But though it's large, there's no threat to come near
And though it's scary, there's no need to fear
This giant is gentle like the biggest of dinosaurs
Like the Apatosauruses that were not carnivores
This harmless “Butanding” eats not by tearing
It's wide mouth feeds strangely by filtering
So it's really ridiculous to strike this gentle guy
Self defense can be a big, big lie…a funny alibi
The world is the home of this gentle giant
In all continents there it is like the elephant
Hey look it's also on our 100 peso bill
The only place where no one can kill
But here in the Philippines, the government will punish you
If you catch, kill & sell this treasure we value!
01/27/2015
(Dumarao)
*Defense of the Animals Collection
You are a stable boat on mighty river named struggle
This perennial river flows, sometimes calmly & sometimes fiercely
Dear boat, it is easy for you to maintain balance when river is flowing calmly with slight scriggles
Salute to you as you keep sailing with stability when river turns to be flowing ferociously
Brave boat, you are always on battleground named river surface
Battleground has whale shark warriors to swallow your stability
the wood on you is an iron shield that injures the warriors in each skirmish
Your unstoppable stable sail forward pushes the injured aside against their desirability
Bright boat, your white color is full of glitters
The glitters are confirming your success in each skirmish
The river is left with no one having vigor
The mighty scriggling river is now giving you path to accomplish your wish
Triumphant boat, for your wish, you have sailed through a long river
now your wish, the world of absolute is your final place of vigor
Slow sways, it meanders ~
Sandy spotted mammoth
Sieving the shallow sea…
Still that dorsal fin fear!
Some jaws don’t bite or bark
Such is deep’s largest fish…
Sized gape, my whale shark awe ~
(3/27/22)
'Starfish!' said I, 'thing of a moray eel.'
Be it black ocean space;
Or in the breathing coral seas;
Back into my memories squiding;
To warn me about the sea turtle;
The cetacean coral reef crabbing;
Sharks and piranhas kidnapping;
I heard a tentacled, seagoing inking;
I wrote a story with the octopus pen;
I was a harbour porpoise and you a tuna sandwich;
The brokered bottlenose whale blossoming;
The sphinx moth singeing;
Only this and a sturgeon;
In there stepped a shovel nose 'whale shark';
In there stepped a 'lake trout.';
Dolphins lookout;
To warn me about the bluefin;
The foul flatfish forging;
All my soul within me gorging;
In there stepped a coral sea cucumber;
I have dreamed of the spadefish;
An echo murmured back the word, 'channel catfish!';
The brook trout smiled;
I felt compelled to sniff the squid;
Smells like fish;
It was squish;
Take thy bluegill from out my heart;
Embrace the wish;
Starfish
6/20/20
WRITTEN WORDS BY James Edward Lee Sr. 2020©
I believe a Force in the universe
pushes around and around suns, moons
pulls and pushes electrical storms
galaxies swarm as stars sway and form
I believe there is a Force that rules
a universe that sent the stars into the night
creates all the living creatures microbe to man
seaweed, otter, whale, shark, coral, sand
the leopard the lion the wild forest buffalo
why I wonder why the pain why is it so
but this I ponder, this in life we cannot know
I wonder does this Force sigh
as creatures fight for more life
beyond what the universe intends
Or is all good and evil, sickness
and health, weak and strong
life and death part of a creative plan
here I sigh why is it so for deep in my heart
I think we cannot know
The sea calls me
whispers in my ears,
the rise and fall of foaming waves
waft the scent of salt tasted tears,
a haven released through time
pounding surf, light, dark and dreams
upon each sounding splashing wave.
Rise. Greet the ocean farers
the fishers of men and women,
schools of children birthed
within restless stormy night winds,
the aftermath of being freed
born to ride the quivers of the sea
beckoning the surge of living life.
Embrace the swells of existence
as the ridges surface and hide again,
the very ripples of breath and heartbeat
pound the inner rhythm in its melody,
drumbeat rolls and foamy crests escalated,
rumbles of thunder unearthed gesticulated
the depths breaching trembling whitecaps to shore.
The sea calls me
dances wildly on the sandy shores,
a tidal flow that inches in from the ocean climb,
taffy pulled breakers slapping on the wet sand,
the billowed torrent of blended lives,
whale, shark, tuna, clam and crab once sheltered
in the darkened depths to journey up and out
to the open seas, calling, wait for me.
The
whale shark
carcass sinks-
the crabs end their
fast.
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