the blue dolphins that took her home

the sun
was just
rising
as
we ate breakfast
and headed
out on
a little fishing boat
to see dolphins.




the sun was
so incredibly bright
and
the boats swayed
on the water.



as we moved
farther and farther
from shore
the waves
slapped the boat
and
my heart
quickened.



for some reason
it reminded me
of a book
i read
and loved
many years ago.

a girl alone
on an island.

the island of
the blue dolphins.



i don't remember
the story
that well
but watching
the shore
fade into the distance
reminded me
of
the dolphins
following
karana
as she left
the island.

do you
remember
the story?





something
about
the loneliness
of being left
to forge
for oneself...

there were
moments
during
this trip
i felt that way.



but
in the end
there are
friends
to help
you
through it all.






i imagined
how she must
have felt
leaving
the island
behind her
as the dolphins
swam
alongside the boat.



far away
from the shore
there were
other
animals.
sting ray males
dancing
for the females.



and
sea turtles
like
the ones
released
a week or so
ago.



and
i remembered
a line from
that book
i read
so many years
ago...



more than anything,
it was the blue dolphins
that took [her]
home.



xo