Kaikoura New Zealand

Cherry

By Mentalelf

Fri, 05 Feb 2021
  • 1403 reads
14 comments
 

When I lived in New Zealand there is a place of great beauty called Kaikoura where great humpbacks and Blue whales came on their vast journeys. Boats took tourists out to see the great beautiful mammals. It angered me that they were just camera fodder for tourists on boats spewing fumes. I went to climb the mountains and love the sea from their peaks.

 

Shale and broken shells

Souls of feet feeling life

Sea swallowing land

A conch shell in my hand.

 

Shoes and socks

Swing from my paw

Jeans rolled up

To a safe line.

 

The sea comes in

Unrelenting uncaring

I feel its cool beauty

Lapping against my skin.

 

To my left miles of beach

To my right miles of more

And a wooden town

With corrugated roofs.

 

I glance back longing to see

Those great snowy mountains

A granite backbone flying high

Heart soars to those highest tops.

 

I wish I was climbing them

Snow caps and glaciers

Bleak above the bush line

All so great and mighty fine.

 

I look to the sea

Giants flukes raise

And then crash

As they drive to dive.

 

Humans in boats

Spewing fumes

And photographs

Show small regard

 

I’m angered

I’m lost for these

Great glistening beasts

Who have to face

 

Have to perform

Maybe unknown

Like marionettes

For humanities greed.

 

 

 

Certificate 12
Non-fiction
Autobiographical

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

Beautiful images. There' a strong case for eco-tourism. Paul

 

Submitted by Mentalelf on

Its a strange feeling to be amongst them, you have a strong instinct to leave them be. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Most of us can only see those mountains and sea creatrues caught on camera. You must have had the opportunity for observing both at some leasure. I suppose each of the tourists has only a brief time there and loves to see the display. It can be a bit artificial I suppose, such a brief visit, and maybe the boats can become a nuisance (especially if they are fume-spilling), but happily the whales are oblivious in their activity! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Mentalelf on

Yes I was very fit in those days and a mountaineer. I'd love the solitude of a solo climb, dangerous though it was, and the native bush... you had to be a good navigator, some got lost in the bush and were never seen again. But I also climbed with friends, there is great trust on taking on a mountain together. Especially when you reached the snow line at the tops. The wales were a great beauty, i've seen many, perhaps the finest were giant wales broaching into the air and splashing down, some say to break the barnacles from thier bodies. I also had the privelege of seeing a pod of Orca pass within feet of me in the sea shephearding a baby. 

Once in the native bush, alone, i'd often go alone for a couple of weeks living in a bivvy bag into the bush, and as I sat still breathing it in, a robin, black and white in Kiwi came and landed upon my knee. On the mountain tops you'd be followed by inquisitive mountain parrots called Kia's. They were mischievous and unafraid, man hadn't learned to kill them. 

Great years. I don't know what the wales made of it all. But to see those giant flukes or the body surface... magnificent forever. Thank you again for the read and your comments. 

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")

Submitted by Mentalelf on

I also kayaked in those days and one day a family of dolphins just arrived and began dancing around me. Amazing. Its my plan to return to my home in New Zealand to end my days there.

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Some wonderful experiences! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Nice poem with good sentiment. Seems to me that more and more people are in agreement that we need to rethink our relationship with nature. Hopefully we'll start to see positive changes. 

 

Submitted by Mentalelf on

I found quite a profound feeling on the many occasions i've seen wales of all kinds to just let them be, let them travel on and do thier thing, which no one understands. Thank you for the comment.

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")

Submitted by seashore on

You paint a vivid picture in words with this piece...

Submitted by Mentalelf on

Its easy when you have so much beauty to draw upon.

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")

Submitted by celticman on

moving and vivid. 

 

Submitted by Mentalelf on

I've been priveleged. 

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This is a wonderful poem and surely you have lived an incredible life in all its glory.

Very much enjoyed reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Mentalelf on

Yes i've experienced many things good and bad. Sometimes the glory was gory, other times magical. I've been to 53 countries at the last count. But when this is all over i'm going to Bhutan and dharamsala in India. Then home to New Zealand to maybe end it all there. Find a shack on a beach, a case of Jamesons and some good music. I'm niether fit enough nor strong enough to climb but I can live at the foot of the mountains where they meet the Pacific and still go into the bush. Thank you so much for reading my poem. Memoirs. memories. But there's still time to make more. 

Kia Kaha (Maori .... "stay strong")