INTERLUDE by Mary Jo West
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INTERLUDE by Mary Jo West
On a sunny, cloudless day
we sail from Dana Point Harbor
to Catalina Island.
Mid way on our journey a
fifty foot Blue Whale
breaches then dives, within
ten feet of our boat.
Except for the sound of
midnight blue water splashing
against the vessel’s white hull,
there’s an eerie silence waiting
for this denizen to reappear.
She emerges,
majestically arches her body in
mid air, and plunges
back into the sea.
Rocking side to side,
our boat nearly capsizes as
the tip of the mast skims
the surface of the water.
Plume of putrid debris
expelled from her blowhole
surrounds us as she
floats to the top.
Down the center of her back,
fluorescent turquoise hue of
air bubbles and barnacles
reflect in the sun.
Undaunted by our presence
this gentle giant allows us to
sail beside her, as
a constant companion,
changing our course as
she changes hers.
Then,
watching her scarred fluke
submerge for the last time,
she disappears and continues
on her way,
our remarkable interlude.