Tuna!


By dawn, I felt the lightest airs of wind
Bearing fishers homeward from the sea;
A sea of changing colour, from darkest blue
To turquoise, and coral reefs richly hued,
In reds, purples, greens and yellow ochre,
Like opals careless strewn across the bays.

I breathed in the salt air's subtle sweetness,
Of silver, bright-eyed fish with lustrous shades
Of blue and shining iridescent greens,
Landed from the tuna boat beside the quay.

I saw a paradise on earth at peace;
The people of that place were justly proud
Of their remote, idyllic island home.
They cleaned and canned the fish in brine or oil,
And packed by hand that line-caught ocean's trove,
There to await the northbound ship, Chefoo.

By dusk, I felt the gentle offshore breeze,
Bearing local fishers once more to sea,
To gather fish for their daily market,
While day's rich hues did gently fade to dark.
Location: Solomon Islands

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