I was asked to show some of my work, so I dug up what I could that was left on my computer, but realized that some of the files are old and my word document wont open them. So, here are a few that I found.
The first two are two poems I wrote:
Twilights Cast
Cast by moonlit shadows, the path lays before my eyes
Stars illuminating my soul in the night sky
Wind whispers softly with sweet smells of jasmine
The air is still, a fire radiates and burns from within
My heart flutters on soft kisses of angelic wings
A twinkle, a flicker, a sparkle of delight
Every sense senseless except the warmth from your light
Time is still, yet the river caresses its capricious course
Serene blades of grass sway & dance delicately in the night air
And only the thought of you is what I hold close and dear
Your love nourishes my being, set loose and set free
My admiration of you keeps me yearning
- burning with desire for all to witness and see
And with gentle tender touches caressing your face
Your smile burns my blood with an intense heated embrace
Shall this tranquil dream whither away and fade?
Shall sunlight come reminiscent of the memories that were made?
Hold fast to twilight’s cast
Cherish these endearing moments forever
- before they all pass.
Written for Ginger Rowlette, April 15, 2006
The Pain in My Neck
When I look up at the sky, all is black, except that it is not dark
In a bleak air, which is vast and wide, there is an order
Cast aside are signs of light, million of tiny dots shimmer, sparkle and shine
But amongst the radiant multitude of flickering embers, only one holds me
From memories past to present days path
I have been looking up
Sirius has always seen over me
Now, don't get me wrong
Whether I've been taunted and teased by her shutting and closing eye
Or challenged by her continuous - intent gaze
Or sometimes even scorned by her disappointed glare
From above, she would still be there, winking down at me
And I would be looking up
Time would not pull her - no farther from my heart
No age between us - no disarray, decay or discontent
Her place in the sky would remain the same
Even with distance - space would not bar her
With those blue glass drops, she would be aglow
For now, I live to see, her there right above me
For I am always looking up
Written for my older brother, April 13, 2009
These next two are Short Stories from Moyshe Pipik's, Notes From The Road:
A Twist of Fates
One fine sunny day, a little Jewish boy was playing with a ball, bouncing it against the side of a church. From around the corner, came a priest, irritated and annoyed. He cautioned the boy to stop banging the ball against his church walls. Not too long after he quickly turned on his heels and disappeared from the corner, the boy resumed kicking the ball back against the wall.
Within moments the priest returned even more aggravated than before. With his voice more irate, he warned the boy that if he did not cease on playing with the ball that he would be severely punished. Seeing the boy looking at him puzzled with the ball in his hands, he felt that he was better understood and spun himself around swiftly returning to the church.
The boy, undaunted, couldn’t fathom a reason to the priest’s unruly behavior. He went back to bouncing his ball and got caught up with playing with it again, when suddenly, he lost control of the ball, springing away and striking the side of the wall. Paralyzed with fear, he grabbed the round object and cradled it under his arms, waiting for his demise as he stared at the corner of the building.
Upon seconds, he saw what he knew to fear. Furious, the priest stormed around the corner his last time, dashing over to the boy and grabbing him by his ear, causing him to drop the ball. The child screamed more from panic and fear than from the pain to what the priest might do. However, the priest subdued his cries by pressing harder against his ears and carried him into the church. He dragged the boy over to the holy water and had him quickly baptized. Then, releasing him with gratification, he let the child run off home crying to his mother.
When the boy came home, his older brother saw him crying and asked what happened. After retelling the story to his brother, disbelieved to what had occurred, his brother beat him, asking him how he could have let something like that happen to him. He told him to go and see their mother and see what she would say about all this.
The boy went to his mother crying and she quickly came to him consoling him that everything was alright. When she asked what’s wrong, he recounted the story about playing ball by the church, upsetting the priest, and being punished by being baptized. Astonished and outraged, she grabbed her son and he received such a beating unlike before. She yelled at him to go and tell his father the same story.
When he approached his father, his father could see that his son was already distraught and upset. The father asked what’s the matter and his son replied, that “I’ve only been Christian for the last twenty minutes, and now I understand why they hate the Jews!” an already I too hate the Jews.
_______________
Repairing History
There was a German talking to a Jew about the critical problems of the Jews in history. To the Jew, the German sharply stated, “You Jews have never been liked where ever you lived. From all the corners of the world, throughout all of history, your kind has either been persecuted, exiled, or massacred. You know that you have been thrown out from Egypt, exiled from Jerusalem by the hands of the Roman’s, wiped aside by the marauding Crusaders, kicked out from Spain in the Inquisitions, England was no different with their Blood Libels, then Russia from the Cossack’s, to Germany and Poland from the Second World War.”
The Jew simply responded, “From Egypt, we left by our own will.”
_______________
Moishe Pipik © 2011
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Deep Blue
Once there was a mother sea turtle that came onto a bright sunny beach. She made little holes in the sand and began laying her eggs. One by one, she whispered to each little baby, “When you are ready, come back to me. We will be together again in the Deep Blue Sea.” She continued spreading out her children onto the beach, until she came to her last one.
“There’s no more room for you on the sand, so I’ll put you back here to be safe until you are ready,” she said softly as she laid her final egg into a small nook underneath some grass and roots, nearby some rocks. When she was finished, she sighed and turned around heading back to the ocean.
Time passed by and all was quiet. But then the day came when, one morning, some sand moved. First, out came a baby turtle breaking from its shell and then crawling out onto the sand. Slowly, a second followed, and then a third. Soon, the whole beach was covered with little hatchlings scuttling over to the ocean. All that is, but one: the one that didn’t hatch, that was still sitting snuggled into the cranny underneath the earth.
One day, this little baby turtle, heard a squawk nearby and than a voice following, “Hey, you! Don’t you think it’s time to come out of your nest? You are like me, you hatch from an egg. Isn’t it time to break free?”
She broke her shell with her small little beak and slowly climbed out to see a white seagull standing on a wooden post.
“What you doing out here on your own, little girl?” came another squawk.
She snuck back into her shell and said, “I’m not exactly sure. I just remember something about a Deep Blue. Maybe you could tell me where it is?”
“The Deep Blue?” said the seagull scratching his head. “Never heard of it. The only Deep Blue I know is up there,” he put his feather finger up pointing to the far off sky. “And that goes on and on.” He then flapped his wings, and with a final squawk was off flying high away into the clouds.
Soon, afterwards, she squirmed onto the sand for the first time not really sure where she was going. So, she slowly crawled her way in the direction of the seagull until she found herself in front of a small tide pool and there she stopped. She wasn’t able to continue on because of the water and the rocks in her way. She thought what to do now, when suddenly popped out of the water a red crab. Startled she quickly put her head back into her shell.
“On no! Not another one,” grumbled the crab sitting half in the water and half out. “What are you afraid from? Me? Go figure. You know, you are like me, if you stay in your shell all the time, you’ll have nothing to see. You need to come out and take a look for yourself. Why don’t you get in the water any way?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” she slowly stretched her head back out. “I was trying to get to the Deep Blue. But the seagull went up high over there and I as I tried to follow him I was stopped by all this water and these rocks.”
“Well, if you ask me little girl,” he said all bothered, “you should know where you’re going. The only great Deep Blue I know of are over there around those rocks,” he splashed his claw into the water. “But it goes on and on. So, be sure about what it is you want, or forget about the whole thing!” he snapped and then clattered up and over the rocks.
She went for the first time into the water not really sure what to do. She grabbed onto the rocks, just like the crab did, and held them as she made her way around. It wasn’t too long, when she soon came upon a yellow-orange starfish lying against the rocks.
“Hello there little girl,” the starfish giggled gleefully. “You look a bit silly, don’t you think? Ha-ha! You’re just like me, stuck to your rock. You must let go and breathe,” again laughed the starfish. “It’s nice in the water and the waves are calm. Come in for a swim or will you lie there all day and keep me company?”
“Well, I am looking for the Deep Blue,” she let go of the rock and floated in the water for the first time. “The crab told me it is around these rocks. But as I went around the rocks I came here and found you.”
“Ha-ha silly girl,” the starfish smiled cheerfully, “of course you did. And if you’re trying to find the Deep Blue, I’m sure that it isn’t around the rocks. The only Deep Blue I know of would be beneath the rocks. Into the reef. And they go on and on. You’ll have to hold your breath and dive down to see for yourself.”
So, following the starfish’s advice, she took a deep breath, and went under the water for the first time. Uncertain, she followed the rocks between cracks and holes and made her way down. She wasn’t sure where to go, and didn’t know how to maneuver through this coral maze. She was thinking of going back because she was confused and lost, when all of sudden a head popped out in front of her from a pit. Startled, she jumped back.
“Say,” slithered a grayish blue eel, “what say we here? Someone from the upside? One, who’s like me, slips and slides from one spot to another. Say, you should select a more specific path and stay straight on it,” his tongue stuck out. “Or, if you stray, you might soon be someone’s lunch,” a crooked smile slowly stretched on his face.
“U-umm, d-do you-you know th-the Deep Blue?” she mustered out. “The st-starfish told me to go beneath the rocks. But I continued going down and then you sprang up.”
“Say I not, ever do such a thing!” he lurched a bit forward and she shuddered back. “You say a Deep Blue? In such shallow waters too? See, straight a meadow there lays. Says I, it continues, on and on,” he coiled back into his pit. “Stay clear of where you are swimming and see yourself on.”
Still a bit trembling, she wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to go back and find another way, but she decided to go forward instead and continued on. Soon, she found herself out of the rocks and covered in a bed of sea grass. She swam through this thicket of grass for the first time. Here, she felt safer between the long lanky leaves, until she noticed that one of the blades suddenly moved. From behind a blade of grass, she took a peak and saw a yellow seahorse floating and swaying along with the grass.
“Neigh!” jumped the seahorse. “You startled me. What were you doing back there? Are you like me?” he floated closer. “Do you too hide away from the sea? Then don’t go too far away from this meadow or you’ll be seen.”
“Seen? Seen from what?” she asked as she went to the edge in order to sneak another peak outside the glade.
“Neigh!” the seahorse jumped again and stopped in front of her. Then he stopped and looked at her. “Why did you come here if not to hide?”
“I am looking for the Deep Blue. The eel from the reef said to go straight to the meadows and so I did. But then I stumbled into you.”
“Neigh! Stumbled you did not,” said the seahorse shaking his head agitatedly. “More like startling me. Are these tricks you wish to play on me? You should be more straight and honest,” he pulled back his head. “Be true to yourself and show who you really are. Otherwise, if you keep on like that, you’ll never find the Deep Blue.”
Suddenly, she became real excited, “You know of the Deep Blue? Have you seen it too?”
“Neigh!” the seahorse pulled his head back once again. “Outside this grassland the ocean becomes vast and wide. In fact, the open water goes on and on. I never lurk out there because you never know what lurks out there. I’d be careful if I was you.”
“Well thanks for everything,” she said shyly and pushed herself along.
“For what?” cried the sea horse as she was leaving the grassy meadow. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
She pulled back the last leaves of grass and saw out into the open waters for the first time. And for the first time, she was about to swim into the open waters, when suddenly something tried to grab at her. Instead, it grabbed a blade of the grass and as she looked at it more closely she could see that it was a tentacle. She followed the long limb and saw a purple octopus halfway into the sand. But before she realized it, a second tentacle was wrapped around her back flipper and she quickly reached out and grabbed at what she could.
“Help!” she cried out holding steadfast onto the grass as she was pulled closer to the octopus.
“Help from what, little thing?” the octopus stared intently. “You know, you are just like me. You reach out and grab whatever you can. Come on! You must let go. Trust yourself. Don’t hold yourself back.”
“And then you’ll eat me!” she tried squirming but his grip was too tight.
The octopus grabbed another flipper and pulled her tighter. She realized that she couldn’t hold on much longer and so she let go. She suddenly flung into the direction of the octopus and saw him open his mouth. She opened her own mouth and then took a big bite of one of his tentacles.
“Oooouch!” the octopus let go surprised and shocked. She swiftly swam away and heard him ask, “Why did you do that?”
She turned around, keeping her distance, and replied, “Well, you were about to eat me?”
“Eat you?” he said, with one tentacle rubbing the other tentacle that she had just bitten. “How preposterous?! I just wanted to get a better look at you. You know, my eyes aren’t what they used to be. And ever since I lost my glasses…”
“Then why did you open your mouth so wide?” she asked.
“I must have yawned,” he gave out another yawn and she could see that he used his tentacles to feel his way around. “You know, at such an old age, I’m always tired. Besides, what’s a little one like you doing out here on their own anyways?”
“I’m looking for the Deep Blue and I was told by the seahorse in the grassy meadow that the ocean opens up here.” she saw his glasses lying right next to him and picked them up out of the sand. “I came to look for myself when I happened to meet you,” she said putting his glasses in one of his tentacles. “You don’t by chance know where the Deep Blue is?”
“Aha. Now that’s better,” he blinked a few times and then continued, “You know, I’ve heard many things in my life, but I’m not sure of that one.” He thought for a moment. “Actually, you know, I do know of some Deep Blue that is out beyond the kelp forest. However, take into mind that it will go on and on. So, if you do decide on continuing forth, believe in yourself and you’ll find your way.”
And for the first time, she felt that she knew what to do. She decided with certainty that she would get to the Deep Blue. She swam on further until she came upon the kelp forest that the octopus spoke of. She slowly made her way in and passed through these long stemmed plants. The further she entered, the more she knew that she was getting closer. But it was quiet and she wasn’t sure how much longer it was needed before she would find its exit and be in the Deep Blue. Then, she saw an orange and white-striped coral fish coming towards her and stopped. The coral fish didn’t seem to notice her and he continued on.
“Excuse me,” she said chasing after him, “do you know the way out of this forest?”
The coral fish said matter-of-factly, “Like, I would presume it must be the same way getting in?” He moved on forward, but she cut him off.
“What I meant to say was that I need to find the Deep Blue and I was told it was beyond this forest. But I’ve been swimming through and well…”
“Yeah, I know. It goes on and on. You know little girl, you remind me of me. Like, you are just passing by going about your way. No cares in the world. But, unlike me, you need to be more aware and appreciate all that’s around you. Don’t get stuck in the reeds man. So life’s a journey. But enjoy it. It’s yours. So like, have you ever seen this Deep Blue before?”
“No,” she said, “actually, I haven’t.”
“So then, like, how do you know what you’re looking for if you haven’t seen it before?” he looked around.
“Well, umm, I just know,” she insisted. “From the first time I can remember, I’ve always heard ‘Come back to the Deep Blue’.”
“Well, like, I’ve too been to a Deep Blue,” he was still looking around. “In fact, many, many times. But they are all the same, you know? One’s here and one’s there. And each one just goes on and on. Like, I guess it doesn’t really matter which one you got. So, go out and get one,” as he said this he moved on, “I’ve got to, like, go out and get mine. So, see you later,” and with that, the coral fish disappeared into the green forest.
She wasn’t very sure about the help that she got, but she did look around herself at the kelp forest for the first time. She noticed other sea creatures that she hadn’t paid attention to before. Small fishes were swimming here and there, shrimps and crabs were crawling around, and sea snails were stuck to the sea weed busy eating. And then, she saw where the forest cleared. She swam out and found herself outside in front of a seamount. She paused for a moment to feel for the first time the ocean current blowing by.
But then, suddenly she jumped from a sharp shock. She looked around, but didn’t see anything. Then again, she jumped. Something had just stung her.
“Yes, I see,” said a soft voice and it continued, “I see, I see.”
“Well, I don’t see,” she said a bit annoyed. “Where are you?” she was looking for where the voice was coming from.
“Yes. You are on your way to a great place. A grand place,” slowly the form of a jellyfish appeared before her eyes.
“That’s right,” she said delighted and eagerly, “do you know where it is?”
The jellyfish continued to speak, “Yes, I see it all clear now. You are searching for something far and wide, right? It is named the Deep Blue.”
“That’s it,” she was filled with joy and excitement. “Yes, that’s it. Where can I find it?”
“Yes, I see,” her head began to glow softly. “I see, you are just like me, you roll with the flow. Like one with the current, you are carried from place to place. But like that which remains still, you too must remain still.”
“Then how will I get anywhere?” she asked anxiously, “especially to the Deep Blue?”
“Yes, yes,” the jellyfish floated upwards. “You must learn patience. Wait for your answers while you search for your goal. I see all is coming to you. Yes. You must wait. You’ll see.”
“Some help you are,” she said let down. She watched the jellyfish floating above and heard in the distant, “Yes, you will see the sea when you are willing to see. For now, you will go onto the seamount. Yes of course, it goes on and on, and on and on…” the jellyfish’s voice trailed off and so too did she as she disappeared once again.
She climbed the seamount and it did go on and on. And once she had reached its top, it then went down on and on. As she made her way down the slope, she saw a shadow in the distant murk. Slowly, the dark body came towards her and slowly, the dark body came to appear as a long grey shark.
“Ahh. A little one. A loner. A rover like me,” he grew in size as he smoothly moved closer to her. “You are alone. Drifting. Moving,” he circled around her. “Always moving. Never stopping. Just keeps moving. You must be a restless one? A bit impatient I figure? You know, I get antsy as well. Especially when I get hungry,” this last he said with a wide grin, showing all his sharp teeth. “So what’s an itty-bitty little morsel like yourself doing all the way out here anyhow?”
She shivered with fear. She wasn’t really sure what she should say. All she could hear was her heart pounding. She just wanted to run away as fast as she could. But, she surprised herself when she heard herself say, “I am looking for the Deep Blue.” Impressed, she found herself continuing, “I was told that it should lie beyond this seamount.”
Again the shark smiled and said looking around, “As you can see, there is no Deep Blue here or beyond. The only Deep Blue is the one that you imagine,” he squished his face up against hers, looking at her eye to eye. “Your Deep Blue is in the deepness of your mind,” he then returned to his circling around her. “Once you start down that path, you will find that it only goes on and on. Your search is from this hope. This hope is what you believe. Being alone can cause us to believe in anything.”
Scared, confused and feeling trapped, she remained frozen in front of this great big predator. “I don’t believe you,” she answered back.
(more to come - hopefully soon)
“There’s no more room for you on the sand, so I’ll put you back here to be safe until you are ready,” she said softly as she laid her final egg into a small nook underneath some grass and roots, nearby some rocks. When she was finished, she sighed and turned around heading back to the ocean.
Time passed by and all was quiet. But then the day came when, one morning, some sand moved. First, out came a baby turtle breaking from its shell and then crawling out onto the sand. Slowly, a second followed, and then a third. Soon, the whole beach was covered with little hatchlings scuttling over to the ocean. All that is, but one: the one that didn’t hatch, that was still sitting snuggled into the cranny underneath the earth.
One day, this little baby turtle, heard a squawk nearby and than a voice following, “Hey, you! Don’t you think it’s time to come out of your nest? You are like me, you hatch from an egg. Isn’t it time to break free?”
She broke her shell with her small little beak and slowly climbed out to see a white seagull standing on a wooden post.
“What you doing out here on your own, little girl?” came another squawk.
She snuck back into her shell and said, “I’m not exactly sure. I just remember something about a Deep Blue. Maybe you could tell me where it is?”
“The Deep Blue?” said the seagull scratching his head. “Never heard of it. The only Deep Blue I know is up there,” he put his feather finger up pointing to the far off sky. “And that goes on and on.” He then flapped his wings, and with a final squawk was off flying high away into the clouds.
Soon, afterwards, she squirmed onto the sand for the first time not really sure where she was going. So, she slowly crawled her way in the direction of the seagull until she found herself in front of a small tide pool and there she stopped. She wasn’t able to continue on because of the water and the rocks in her way. She thought what to do now, when suddenly popped out of the water a red crab. Startled she quickly put her head back into her shell.
“On no! Not another one,” grumbled the crab sitting half in the water and half out. “What are you afraid from? Me? Go figure. You know, you are like me, if you stay in your shell all the time, you’ll have nothing to see. You need to come out and take a look for yourself. Why don’t you get in the water any way?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” she slowly stretched her head back out. “I was trying to get to the Deep Blue. But the seagull went up high over there and I as I tried to follow him I was stopped by all this water and these rocks.”
“Well, if you ask me little girl,” he said all bothered, “you should know where you’re going. The only great Deep Blue I know of are over there around those rocks,” he splashed his claw into the water. “But it goes on and on. So, be sure about what it is you want, or forget about the whole thing!” he snapped and then clattered up and over the rocks.
She went for the first time into the water not really sure what to do. She grabbed onto the rocks, just like the crab did, and held them as she made her way around. It wasn’t too long, when she soon came upon a yellow-orange starfish lying against the rocks.
“Hello there little girl,” the starfish giggled gleefully. “You look a bit silly, don’t you think? Ha-ha! You’re just like me, stuck to your rock. You must let go and breathe,” again laughed the starfish. “It’s nice in the water and the waves are calm. Come in for a swim or will you lie there all day and keep me company?”
“Well, I am looking for the Deep Blue,” she let go of the rock and floated in the water for the first time. “The crab told me it is around these rocks. But as I went around the rocks I came here and found you.”
“Ha-ha silly girl,” the starfish smiled cheerfully, “of course you did. And if you’re trying to find the Deep Blue, I’m sure that it isn’t around the rocks. The only Deep Blue I know of would be beneath the rocks. Into the reef. And they go on and on. You’ll have to hold your breath and dive down to see for yourself.”
So, following the starfish’s advice, she took a deep breath, and went under the water for the first time. Uncertain, she followed the rocks between cracks and holes and made her way down. She wasn’t sure where to go, and didn’t know how to maneuver through this coral maze. She was thinking of going back because she was confused and lost, when all of sudden a head popped out in front of her from a pit. Startled, she jumped back.
“Say,” slithered a grayish blue eel, “what say we here? Someone from the upside? One, who’s like me, slips and slides from one spot to another. Say, you should select a more specific path and stay straight on it,” his tongue stuck out. “Or, if you stray, you might soon be someone’s lunch,” a crooked smile slowly stretched on his face.
“U-umm, d-do you-you know th-the Deep Blue?” she mustered out. “The st-starfish told me to go beneath the rocks. But I continued going down and then you sprang up.”
“Say I not, ever do such a thing!” he lurched a bit forward and she shuddered back. “You say a Deep Blue? In such shallow waters too? See, straight a meadow there lays. Says I, it continues, on and on,” he coiled back into his pit. “Stay clear of where you are swimming and see yourself on.”
Still a bit trembling, she wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to go back and find another way, but she decided to go forward instead and continued on. Soon, she found herself out of the rocks and covered in a bed of sea grass. She swam through this thicket of grass for the first time. Here, she felt safer between the long lanky leaves, until she noticed that one of the blades suddenly moved. From behind a blade of grass, she took a peak and saw a yellow seahorse floating and swaying along with the grass.
“Neigh!” jumped the seahorse. “You startled me. What were you doing back there? Are you like me?” he floated closer. “Do you too hide away from the sea? Then don’t go too far away from this meadow or you’ll be seen.”
“Seen? Seen from what?” she asked as she went to the edge in order to sneak another peak outside the glade.
“Neigh!” the seahorse jumped again and stopped in front of her. Then he stopped and looked at her. “Why did you come here if not to hide?”
“I am looking for the Deep Blue. The eel from the reef said to go straight to the meadows and so I did. But then I stumbled into you.”
“Neigh! Stumbled you did not,” said the seahorse shaking his head agitatedly. “More like startling me. Are these tricks you wish to play on me? You should be more straight and honest,” he pulled back his head. “Be true to yourself and show who you really are. Otherwise, if you keep on like that, you’ll never find the Deep Blue.”
Suddenly, she became real excited, “You know of the Deep Blue? Have you seen it too?”
“Neigh!” the seahorse pulled his head back once again. “Outside this grassland the ocean becomes vast and wide. In fact, the open water goes on and on. I never lurk out there because you never know what lurks out there. I’d be careful if I was you.”
“Well thanks for everything,” she said shyly and pushed herself along.
“For what?” cried the sea horse as she was leaving the grassy meadow. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
She pulled back the last leaves of grass and saw out into the open waters for the first time. And for the first time, she was about to swim into the open waters, when suddenly something tried to grab at her. Instead, it grabbed a blade of the grass and as she looked at it more closely she could see that it was a tentacle. She followed the long limb and saw a purple octopus halfway into the sand. But before she realized it, a second tentacle was wrapped around her back flipper and she quickly reached out and grabbed at what she could.
“Help!” she cried out holding steadfast onto the grass as she was pulled closer to the octopus.
“Help from what, little thing?” the octopus stared intently. “You know, you are just like me. You reach out and grab whatever you can. Come on! You must let go. Trust yourself. Don’t hold yourself back.”
“And then you’ll eat me!” she tried squirming but his grip was too tight.
The octopus grabbed another flipper and pulled her tighter. She realized that she couldn’t hold on much longer and so she let go. She suddenly flung into the direction of the octopus and saw him open his mouth. She opened her own mouth and then took a big bite of one of his tentacles.
“Oooouch!” the octopus let go surprised and shocked. She swiftly swam away and heard him ask, “Why did you do that?”
She turned around, keeping her distance, and replied, “Well, you were about to eat me?”
“Eat you?” he said, with one tentacle rubbing the other tentacle that she had just bitten. “How preposterous?! I just wanted to get a better look at you. You know, my eyes aren’t what they used to be. And ever since I lost my glasses…”
“Then why did you open your mouth so wide?” she asked.
“I must have yawned,” he gave out another yawn and she could see that he used his tentacles to feel his way around. “You know, at such an old age, I’m always tired. Besides, what’s a little one like you doing out here on their own anyways?”
“I’m looking for the Deep Blue and I was told by the seahorse in the grassy meadow that the ocean opens up here.” she saw his glasses lying right next to him and picked them up out of the sand. “I came to look for myself when I happened to meet you,” she said putting his glasses in one of his tentacles. “You don’t by chance know where the Deep Blue is?”
“Aha. Now that’s better,” he blinked a few times and then continued, “You know, I’ve heard many things in my life, but I’m not sure of that one.” He thought for a moment. “Actually, you know, I do know of some Deep Blue that is out beyond the kelp forest. However, take into mind that it will go on and on. So, if you do decide on continuing forth, believe in yourself and you’ll find your way.”
And for the first time, she felt that she knew what to do. She decided with certainty that she would get to the Deep Blue. She swam on further until she came upon the kelp forest that the octopus spoke of. She slowly made her way in and passed through these long stemmed plants. The further she entered, the more she knew that she was getting closer. But it was quiet and she wasn’t sure how much longer it was needed before she would find its exit and be in the Deep Blue. Then, she saw an orange and white-striped coral fish coming towards her and stopped. The coral fish didn’t seem to notice her and he continued on.
“Excuse me,” she said chasing after him, “do you know the way out of this forest?”
The coral fish said matter-of-factly, “Like, I would presume it must be the same way getting in?” He moved on forward, but she cut him off.
“What I meant to say was that I need to find the Deep Blue and I was told it was beyond this forest. But I’ve been swimming through and well…”
“Yeah, I know. It goes on and on. You know little girl, you remind me of me. Like, you are just passing by going about your way. No cares in the world. But, unlike me, you need to be more aware and appreciate all that’s around you. Don’t get stuck in the reeds man. So life’s a journey. But enjoy it. It’s yours. So like, have you ever seen this Deep Blue before?”
“No,” she said, “actually, I haven’t.”
“So then, like, how do you know what you’re looking for if you haven’t seen it before?” he looked around.
“Well, umm, I just know,” she insisted. “From the first time I can remember, I’ve always heard ‘Come back to the Deep Blue’.”
“Well, like, I’ve too been to a Deep Blue,” he was still looking around. “In fact, many, many times. But they are all the same, you know? One’s here and one’s there. And each one just goes on and on. Like, I guess it doesn’t really matter which one you got. So, go out and get one,” as he said this he moved on, “I’ve got to, like, go out and get mine. So, see you later,” and with that, the coral fish disappeared into the green forest.
She wasn’t very sure about the help that she got, but she did look around herself at the kelp forest for the first time. She noticed other sea creatures that she hadn’t paid attention to before. Small fishes were swimming here and there, shrimps and crabs were crawling around, and sea snails were stuck to the sea weed busy eating. And then, she saw where the forest cleared. She swam out and found herself outside in front of a seamount. She paused for a moment to feel for the first time the ocean current blowing by.
But then, suddenly she jumped from a sharp shock. She looked around, but didn’t see anything. Then again, she jumped. Something had just stung her.
“Yes, I see,” said a soft voice and it continued, “I see, I see.”
“Well, I don’t see,” she said a bit annoyed. “Where are you?” she was looking for where the voice was coming from.
“Yes. You are on your way to a great place. A grand place,” slowly the form of a jellyfish appeared before her eyes.
“That’s right,” she said delighted and eagerly, “do you know where it is?”
The jellyfish continued to speak, “Yes, I see it all clear now. You are searching for something far and wide, right? It is named the Deep Blue.”
“That’s it,” she was filled with joy and excitement. “Yes, that’s it. Where can I find it?”
“Yes, I see,” her head began to glow softly. “I see, you are just like me, you roll with the flow. Like one with the current, you are carried from place to place. But like that which remains still, you too must remain still.”
“Then how will I get anywhere?” she asked anxiously, “especially to the Deep Blue?”
“Yes, yes,” the jellyfish floated upwards. “You must learn patience. Wait for your answers while you search for your goal. I see all is coming to you. Yes. You must wait. You’ll see.”
“Some help you are,” she said let down. She watched the jellyfish floating above and heard in the distant, “Yes, you will see the sea when you are willing to see. For now, you will go onto the seamount. Yes of course, it goes on and on, and on and on…” the jellyfish’s voice trailed off and so too did she as she disappeared once again.
She climbed the seamount and it did go on and on. And once she had reached its top, it then went down on and on. As she made her way down the slope, she saw a shadow in the distant murk. Slowly, the dark body came towards her and slowly, the dark body came to appear as a long grey shark.
“Ahh. A little one. A loner. A rover like me,” he grew in size as he smoothly moved closer to her. “You are alone. Drifting. Moving,” he circled around her. “Always moving. Never stopping. Just keeps moving. You must be a restless one? A bit impatient I figure? You know, I get antsy as well. Especially when I get hungry,” this last he said with a wide grin, showing all his sharp teeth. “So what’s an itty-bitty little morsel like yourself doing all the way out here anyhow?”
She shivered with fear. She wasn’t really sure what she should say. All she could hear was her heart pounding. She just wanted to run away as fast as she could. But, she surprised herself when she heard herself say, “I am looking for the Deep Blue.” Impressed, she found herself continuing, “I was told that it should lie beyond this seamount.”
Again the shark smiled and said looking around, “As you can see, there is no Deep Blue here or beyond. The only Deep Blue is the one that you imagine,” he squished his face up against hers, looking at her eye to eye. “Your Deep Blue is in the deepness of your mind,” he then returned to his circling around her. “Once you start down that path, you will find that it only goes on and on. Your search is from this hope. This hope is what you believe. Being alone can cause us to believe in anything.”
Scared, confused and feeling trapped, she remained frozen in front of this great big predator. “I don’t believe you,” she answered back.
(more to come - hopefully soon)
Oceanic Birthday
So, my girlfriend just had her birthday this last week, and I was scrambling in my head about a story to write her since last October. We had this really interesting talk and she mentioned something to me that stuck in my head and I thought, that would be a great idea for my next story. Time went by, and I allowed my thoughts to percolate with this idea and soon it began taking a world of it's own. Even though I wasn't writing or knowing what to write, I was thinking of the world and characters and plot to come. I wanted it the main character to be a young sea turtle, as it's a theme in my girlfriends life and I thought it would represent her well. Though, I have to admit, in the beginning the turtle was going to be a boy. But I realized two things. First, I've never really wrote a story before with a girl intended as my main character, and second, if it's going to represent her, than why was I going to masculinize it? I knew that this character was going on a journey and along the way would meet all these different characters. And than that was it. I stopped there. Weeks and months went by, and I wasn't getting anywhere else. Yes, once in a while I was researching character sketches and thinking about the scenery and all. But nothing more. Than 3 weeks back I realized that I needed to get to work, since her birthday was coming up soon... And once I got started, I kept the ball rolling... every now and then I had to do some research for the story to learn more about the ocean, different terrains, and sea life.
Of course, not all the characters are exact to science... but they work for the story... And I had a lot of fun with it. So, for now, my next post.. you'll be able to read most of it. Please feel free to comment or suggest. Thank you!
Of course, not all the characters are exact to science... but they work for the story... And I had a lot of fun with it. So, for now, my next post.. you'll be able to read most of it. Please feel free to comment or suggest. Thank you!
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