{"id":3758,"date":"2023-04-21T01:00:51","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T05:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/?p=3758"},"modified":"2023-04-21T09:04:39","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T13:04:39","slug":"read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/2023\/04\/21\/read\/","title":{"rendered":"Poetry Series: I’ll Become a Whale; A Gentle Reminder"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sydney Read<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’ll Become a Whale<\/span><\/h3>\n

When death comes\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and if I\u2019m lucky\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll go back to the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll become a whale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Watch me slip, steady\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Out and Into<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 the great blue\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See my back,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sunny-slick and breached?<\/span><\/p>\n

I found, there, <\/span>between<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

the waves some<\/span><\/p>\n

warmth and ease, at last<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A little rest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, I\u2019ll chitter with delight\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I find that\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

everyday\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

is my great journey<\/span><\/p>\n

my humble flight<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So when the water gets too warm\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The sun too close\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 (as I\u2019m sure\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 It\u2019s wont to do)<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch me dive\u2014\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Dive!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 With one\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 simple\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 strong\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 stroke\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Swoosh!\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Down, down<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Under, Into\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 the blue-dark\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of shimmering tentacle friends<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and little gods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You won\u2019t see my fin, its gentle wave<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Hello,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/i>I\u2019ll say, a shy visitor<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 You are beautiful. I know that beauty doesn\u2019t need<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a name<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Only, a little love.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Could I stay for a moment? With a little love?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A blink,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a swish,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a crackle-blue electric wish<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 For peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And so I\u2019ll stay a little while\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For cold water stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 From where I\u2019ve been\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 For where I\u2019m going.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll wave hello to Giant Squid<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll tell him about the sun\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bright and brave\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 It reaches, ever farther,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and learns.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A journeyman, like you\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

He\u2019ll chirp wonderfully, tentacles tickling<\/span><\/p>\n

He has not seen the sun<\/span><\/p>\n

And one day, when he dies\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 if he\u2019s lucky\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He says he\u2019d like to become a bird\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I\u2019ll dive into the sky if it\u2019ll have me,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Mark my words I\u2019ll\u2014<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I\u2019ll touch the sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A blink,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a swish,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a crackle-blue electric wish<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/i>For peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When the dark<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 is enough and sun is\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 enough and time is enough<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll take my tale across the great water<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll take the stories on my back and<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 leave my love behind\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Patience guide me\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

to the end of the world\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 They never found it. Pray they never will.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

A flick of my tale,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 a final smile\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A splash!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 I\u2019ll tip over,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 off\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 And into\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/i>the stars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

A Gentle Reminder <\/span><\/h3>\n

Well,\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

it\u2019s not really\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

about the snow.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

it\u2019s the ice that\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The Problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They tell me this with knowing smiles,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

a gentle hand on my arm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

imagining perhaps\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

my future\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(inevitable)<\/span><\/p>\n

anger,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

my car helplessly stuck\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

in its space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We must get <\/span>used<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

to the world and\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

know<\/span><\/i> that it\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

is hard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And that<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

is living.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here is why snow\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Is <\/span><\/i>dull<\/span> and difficult to drive in.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not about the snow. Think:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Where are you going?\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

You may not get there.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But I have never seen\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

deep snow!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New sight, new sound (soundless!)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and what a gift to know it!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m from the South.<\/span><\/p>\n

(I\u2019m sorry)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We cry for the snow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back home, we flush\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

ice down\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

the toilet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We turn our peejays insideout\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

we beg\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

to watch it come\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

just to see it go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But oh, when it stayed!<\/span><\/p>\n

The landscape altered\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and how it altered us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Snow made us frantic rosy people, stumbling\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

about, fumbling with our humanity like car keys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Snow meant my step dad pulling out dusty sleds\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

and pushing us down a novel ice street and\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Building snowmen out of mostly dirt and\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

taking photos and saying thanks\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

for a day, before it went,<\/span><\/p>\n

as all things do.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I have never seen snow stay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now,<\/span><\/p>\n

I sink my boots into forever-snow\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve forgotten, a little\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What the ground looks like and grass looks like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes<\/span><\/i>, my car got stuck and my face was red and frustrated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve walked on ice and worn big coats and seen my hands\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn blue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It gets dark so early here (read: <\/span>I sleep forever here!)\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve now had the privilege\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of being bored by snow (the world)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I see, yes,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That it <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> hard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But see my puppy!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See her play, see her dash and make powder<\/span><\/p>\n

and chomp snowballs in her mouth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I cannot help but sink into its deepness with her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What a season! What a life!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What a crystal blue sunset\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over a snowglobe world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I think I\u2019ll still cry\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When the snow goes.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Sydney Read   I’ll Become a Whale When death comes\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and if I\u2019m lucky\u00a0 I\u2019ll go back to the water.\u00a0 I\u2019ll become a whale.\u00a0   Watch me slip, steady\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Out and Into \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2245,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spire-2023-issue"],"yoast_head":"\nPoetry Series: I'll Become a Whale; A Gentle Reminder - The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability - University of Maine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/2023\/04\/21\/read\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Poetry Series: I'll Become a Whale; A Gentle Reminder - The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability - University of Maine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Sydney Read   I’ll Become a Whale When death comes\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 and if I\u2019m lucky\u00a0 I\u2019ll go back to the water.\u00a0 I\u2019ll become a whale.\u00a0   Watch me slip, steady\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Out and Into \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/2023\/04\/21\/read\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-04-21T05:00:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-04-21T13:04:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"csaddler\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"csaddler\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/2023\/04\/21\/read\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/2023\/04\/21\/read\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"csaddler\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/spire\/#\/schema\/person\/1d30098a1809b78198e1d4fa49100f8b\"},\"headline\":\"Poetry Series: I’ll Become a Whale; 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