ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Nature’s Single Dad’s
THE LEAFY SEA DRAGON
Gracefully swaying without need for speed
Are creatures of beauty, disguised as seaweed.
Up to twelve inches long from tail to snout
These delicate creatures just drift about.

They carry, as they move like galleons in sail,
Silk-like appendages, leafy and pale
On back spines, projecting as masts on a ship
Sailing the oceans, they rise and they dip,

To the rhythm of moon tides; full or neap,
They travel the seas; these Dragons of the Deep.
Through weed-covered reefs and meadows of sea grass
There’s neither a neigh nor a roar as they pass.

They resemble sea horses in flowing silk gowns
Drifting on rhythms, dancing up and then down.
They slow-dance through the water just moving around
No fire, no flames from these dragons; not a sound.

The mother will lay two hundred eggs on Dad’s patch
Of soft sponge, where safely, his new brood will hatch.
The sun flashes gold on her as she drifts on by,
While in the shadow of his tail, his offspring lie.

This single Dad of the deep tends a new generation,
Of Leafy Sea Dragon eggs; a fascinating creation.
Less than one inch when first hatched from the eggs
As newly formed babies; ready for life; without legs.

They drift as if they feed, gaining the silky covered bone
To a length of twelve inches by the time they’re full grown.
The cycles of the moon dictate the rhythms and motion
Of this Leafy Sea Dragon in our Great Southern Ocean.

© 2011

You learn something new every day!! I hadn't heard about these, but enjoyed your poem.
Catchya
IRene

Hi,
you found these lovely creatures, too.
Thank you Irene,

worddancer
.

I've seen these beautiful creatures too. They had some at Underwater World on the Sunshine Coast when we visited a couple of years ago. Fascinating, just like your poem.

Thank you Worddancer, I could feel myself drifting in the ocean as I read your poem, a facinating read, and welcome to the forum.
Sue

Hello Mummsie,
It's nice to meet you, and thank you too, Leonie, and Irene for being interested and your encouraging words.

I do have some catching up to do,

I have posted a picture so people will recognize them if they see them in our waters.


Worddancer

You girls need to watch a bit more of the nature shows. Bear Grillis would eat these.

Just kidding several breeds of fish also have the male as sole parent. most of these are mouth breeders.

Bob

Thanks for the tip Bob, I'll let them know that there is a Community Dance scheduled at The Ocean Floor Plaza.


Worddancer