WHERE THE SEAGRASS TOUCHES THE SUN BY PAMELA D. HIRTE

We launched our kayaks out of Lido Beach one mild morning.
Sun melted over our bodies and welcomed us into the expansive bay.
Kayaks lingered together like a school of fish. We paddled out toward
the channel. Once in the deep, we drank in the beauty of the bay

A black snake bird swam alongside then disappeared. On the other
side of kayak, bird suddenly surfaced. Snake bird followed awhile
ducking and darting. Finally, fish found,
winged flight with trophy trapped

We steered toward shoreline where the seagrass touches the sun.
A grey behemoth, whiskered faced and stout bodied, ate seagrass.
Manatees curiously watched as our kayaks drifted by

We navigated toward the mangroves. Tropical trees in the middle
of the bay knitted together. Branch limbs lurched into the water
as if its roots could walk. Man created a series of tunnels
inside the large mangroves. We entered slowly and floated
in a fold of flora

Starfish stirred as my paddle touched the sandy bottom. Oysters
clung to the roots of the mangrove. A white ibis stood sentry.
In this shadowy shell, calm enveloped us. We exited the tunnels
and paddled peacefully back to Lido Beach. Sun-soothed day
spent on a blissful bay.