Thursday, February 02, 2012

the blue dolphins that took her home

island of the blue dolphins

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

el cafecito
bugheart_feb1_morningboat3

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

bugheart_feb1_morningboat

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

bugheart_feb1_dolphingirl1

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.


Islandofthebluedolphins

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?

bugheart_feb1_dolphins2
bugheart_feb1_dolphins4


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

there were
moments
during
this trip
i felt that way.

bugheart_feb1_marinersreven

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

the boat
bugheart_feb1_dolphins3
bugheart_feb1_dolphins1
bugheart_feb1_mariadeb

i imagined
how she must
have felt
leaving
the island
behind her

as the dolphins
swam
alongside the boat.

bugheart_feb1_bytheboat1

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

performing sting ray

and
sea turtles
like
the ones
released

a week or so
ago.

and turtles, oh my!

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

bugheart_feb1_karana

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


bugheart_feb1_boat

xo

8 comments:

Beth said...

I LOVED that book! I totally wore it out. Your photos accompanying the story are stunning.

emily said...

this is beautiful, gwen. your words gave me goosebumps.

i had forgotten all about that book! thank you for the reminder.

alexandria said...

What a beautiful post. Your words always have so much heart.

Maria said...

You know, last night when you were talking about taking so many pictures of her, I didn't quite get what you meant... Now I do, and you're right, it does have that feeling

I also loved that book.

Thanks, dear. It's fun to hear inside your head.

f. pea said...

Definitely need to go re-read that book. Also... that stingray picture is totally amazing.

Anonymous said...

Cela fait des mois que je lis tes blogs à présent et je suis heureuse d'y retrouver la Gwen poétique qui m'avait tant charmée à Pullman.

Alexandra

softspoken said...

i always enjoy your posts so very very much <3

tara thayer said...

my girls are reading this now! let me take this opportunity to tell you how mesmerizing i find your writing...soothing, engaging...so many things.
best wishes, gwen.
xo,
tara thayer