~
Our leader vocalizes with a series of clicks, squeeks, and whistles, signaling it is time to find our meal. The pod moves in synch as we speed off, echolocate, and swarm our target. We herd the fish; circling, splashing, and condensing the mass. Then we dive in to feast. After eating, we float and sleep with one eye closed to rest half our brain while the other side keeps us safe. The pod is our protection, swimming, resting, feeding, and even socializing as a group. Our sonar allows us to “see” and navigate underwater even in murky water. Today we swam 100 miles. Sometimes we surf, dive, and breach just for fun. Life is good in our community.
~
masters of movement
playful sentient mammals
delightful dolphins
~
This is my contribution to Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday poetry challenge. I chose a haibun which is a combination of a prose paragraph and a haiku.
#TankaTuesday
writing to freedom 
I like the perspective!
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Thank you Cynthia. I had fun with it.
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Wow Brad so nice you have written about them. Loved it and your tanka too.
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Thanks Kamal. I’m glad you enjoyed my prose! 🙂
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Yes nice. Always welcome dear Brad 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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I love dolphins. They are masterful beings I feel we have much yet to learn from. I love your sharing life through their eyes, as it’s a reminder that we can always flip perspective to imagine walking, flying, or swimming in another’s shoes, so that we fill our hearts with greater compassion.
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I love dolphins too Tania and agree we have much to learn from their way of living; group consciousness. Group hugs! 😋🐬
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A fantastic subject to write about, Brad. They are spectacular to see in the wild, doing what you describe. 🐬
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Agreed Michele. I find them enthralling to watch and be near. 🐬
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Absolutely! I saw them up close in the wild once, from the side of a boat. They were incredible to watch. Thank you for the share, Brad.
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Delightful dolphins & wonderful poem Brad. Enjoyed immensely.
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Thank you Cindy. Dolphins and the photo inspire me. 🐬
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Great job with it, Brad!
I love your writing from their perspective!
Blessings!
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Thank you Ana. It seemed like a good way to tell their story.
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“Life is good in our community” does sound like something a dolphin would say. I mean, they are some optimistic and cheerful creatures!
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Yes, and they live and think as a group.
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A beautiful poem about the most magnificent creatures…..Thank you Brad. X
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You’re most welcome Janet. Yes, they’re magnificent beings!
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Love this blog post AND the comments it has inspired. Yes, we could learn a lot about living in community from all sorts of other beings — including the marvelous dolphins!
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Thank you Will. I agree that we have much to learn from dolphins and many other magnificent creatures, plants, trees, etc. about living in harmony and connection.
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Love the topic! Dolphins are such wonderful animals and you’ve shared some interesting/fun facts. I love the stories where they have protected human surfers, swimmers, etc. from sharks.
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Thanks Kristine. Clearly, many of us are fascinated by these intelligent, playful beings. Yes, I’ve read similarly amazing stories about dolphins including them helping in underwater childbirth!
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A lovely haibun, Brad. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks Robbie. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
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You captured perfectly the Movement and Life of these beautiful Mammals, they also help with keeping the frequency of high vibration of our Earth along with the Whales.. Precious indeed…
Loved your Tanka and post Brad.. ❤
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Thank you Sue. Yes, whales and dolphins are advanced beings. Nice to see you on WP! 💕
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Thank you Brad… I am beginning to dip in and our of WP again. Thank you ❤
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Yay! I’m so glad you played along, Brad. Aren’t these wonderful and amazing animals. You captured their biology, but also their intelligence, playfulness, and emotion. Beautiful haibun. Loved it.
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Thank you Diana Your prose is what inspired me along with these beautiful animals. I’m glad you think I portrayed them well. 🙏
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I hope you do more of Colleen’s challenges, Brad. (I committed myself to the once a month photo prompt). You did such a wonderful job with it, I love your poetry.
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I don’t feel very inspired for writing lately so using a prompt might be helpful.
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I hope you’re not inspired because other good stuff in going on. 🙂
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Awesome Brad!!
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Thanks Kirt.
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Great job writing from the dolphin point of view! In my first year of college, I was strongly considering majoring in marine biology and read a lot about dolphins. Yet, I did not know (or forgot) that they sleep with one eye closed to rest half the brain. That’s fascinating!
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How fun! I thought about marine science after watching Jacque Cousteau! And the more I learn about dolphins, the more fascinated I am.
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Their communication abilities are amazing. And we barely understand.
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They are such gifts Brad and so are your words in the challenge. Well done!
💖
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Thank you Cindy 😊
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Always Brad! 💖💖
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😊
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I love the ‘life is good in our community’. What a coincidence I was discussing the TV shows that I like and they had one common theme- a good community. Lovely haibun, Brad.
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How fun that we are pondering community Smitha. Which I am realizing is very important to my well being. To community and caring.
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