Mentoring

there was a sea turtle one
a hawaiian honu
who wanted to be friend
though really i think
he considered himself
more a mentor

the water
was actually blue
which was not a thing
i’d seen much
in water
blue and clear
all the way down
and the little fishes
danced in it
and wished
i would go

the turtle
was busy
with turtle things
but being generous
to young creatures
looked at me
with eyes
full of blue forever
and turtle humor
showed me
with great care
how to eat moss
(or possibly algae)

And also that we surface
for three airs
precisely
two airs is
insufficient
four airs
vulgar

and then return
to our algae
and we may flip
if we like
but with
dignity

---

Kara Coryell