It sounds so clinical,
176 – like a token
or ticket clutched
waiting
for your starched shirts
or bakery order
but to his mother
there was a name
sung deep like a lullaby
beyond our ears
or comprehension,
whispered softly
by his partner
or joyfully
by his children,
but to us he was a number
a beautiful black and white number
sleek amongst the waves he called home
now and forever.
ml’25
- Today’s news brought word of the death of 176 – a 28 year old Northern Orca – such beautiful creatures – sadness
(‘Whalesong’ – an image I created several years ago)