The Last Time I Saw Fungie (2005)

Gold cherry

By marandina

Thu, 25 Mar 2021
  • 5059 reads
22 comments
 

Cumulus clouds rolled across Celtic, Irish skies,

white horses crested cyan waves - chopped, rose and fell,

a streaming wake trailed, leading back to shore

as our weather-worn, tourist boat traversed Dingle Bay.

 

Crowds clamoured at junket sides – aft and fore,

scanning, peering, searching for flipper and fin,

it was then that Fungie the bottlenose appeared,

emerging triumphantly, breaking the surface with a grin.

 

This lone showman played to his human gallery,

whoops and cheers, children’s smiles and tears,

this most majestic of mammalian royalty

at one with gatekeepers of a briny wilderness.

 

The skipper and crew tracked our aquine friend,

cameras clicked, fingers pointed, water thrashed, crashed,

seagulls chattered to other sea birds above the surf,

watching over the symbiosis playing on the swell below.

 

These memories light up my soul from days past.

Time marches on, waits for no man or beast,

even dolphins have their allotted span when

this friendliest of creatures will no longer visit.

 

Fishermen speculate whilst drinking tin cups of rum,

sombre shop keepers lament the absence of Kerry’s jewel,

maybe their companion from the deep has swam on.

So many await his return, watching, praying

that God and nature grants them one more wish.

 

https://www.irishpost.com/news/fungie-the-dolphin-to-be-honoured-with-memorial-event-in-2021-199269

Image free to use at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fungie_(1483877277).jpg

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Nature

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

What a great tribute to this beautiful creature of the deep. I've never heard a dolphine called a fungie before, so now I've learned something new. I have to say they do have such a cheery smile, makes me want to smile too. smiley

Thanks for sharing Paul.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jenny. I saw Fungie the dolphin on a holiday to the west of Ireland in 2005. He was a superstar and loved by tourists and locals alike. He disappeared late last year and it's thought he has reached an age where he may have died. As you can see from the link, a memorial is planned in 2021. Paul

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Beautiful descriptions of sea and sky and the wonderful character of a dolphin and all its playful antics. It's hard to believe an animal with so much presence could ever really die. Thanks for sharing, I very much I enjoyed reading.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jane. If there's a creature that deserves to inherit the Earth, it's probably dolphins. Just the most wonderful of animals. Thanks again. Paul

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for the cherries, ABC :)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

What a wonderful story - thanks for putting in the link. I wasn't aware of this before. That last verse brings a definite little prickling of the eyes. It'sgreat to know that, for once, our species is showing respect and love for another.

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jane. Fungie was an icon and there is genuine heart break in the region that it looks like he has gone. There's a small chance he may have moved to deeper waters but he was old in dolphin terms so more likely to have met his fate. It's unlikely a dolphin will replace him because he was unusual in not being part of a pod. Maybe a miracle will happen and he will return. I hope so. Paul

 

Submitted by celticman on

Lovely memory and poem. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Cheers CM. It was one of my favourite holidays. The two most beautiful places I have ever been is The Highlands in Scotland and the West Coast of Ireland. I took a ferry from Holyhead to Dublin then drove across the mainland. Just a stunning country.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please do share/retweet if you enjoy it too.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh wow - thank you so much! Paul

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

I never knew him and now I miss him. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Drew. Many will miss Fungie. Paul

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Must have been a lovely experience – for everyone there. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rhiannon. It was magical. Paul

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Marandina

 

I really loved this poem. It is beautifully written, and tells it like it is. I have been in a boat when dolphins were playing alongside, and it really is a wonderful experience.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jean. It's a privilege being in their company isn't it? Thanks again. Paul :)

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

This was so damn lovely, Paul. Gave me a longing I wasn't expecting. 
 

Rich

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Rich. I think Fungie was well known in the US as well. I remember a lot of visitors in Ireland at that time were from the States. There's quite a connection between the two countries. Paul

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

I'm sure you're right. I want familiar though. Hope to get ice your way soon. We were all booked in for last summer before the pandemic hit. Then we we had to cancel. Fingers crossed for this year.  

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

A very instructive and well-described poem on a dolphin that was unbeknown to me,, Paul. Thanks for enlightening me and congratulations on pick of the day.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Luigi. It's a reminiscence brought on by events from last year when I saw the story break that Fungie had gone missing. Thanks again. Paul :)