hole dwelling rock fish
scaleless guardian of reef
today he comes out
baring teeth and fin to foes
fear is conquered by his faith
Author notes
The blenny is so small yet such a warrior - living in the rocks and holes of the reef - he survives on wit and swiftness. If only I had a tenth of the courage that the tiny blenny has when he leaves his safe rock and enters the open waters.
This was taken with a Canaon A95 Powershot camera in the Canon underwater housing. It's a really nifty underwater camera. The shot was taken coming out of a cave at about 75 feet.
I took this picture last week on a dive at East End Grand Cayman. Please do not use this picture without my permission.
Written August 25th, 2005
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 25 of 25
-
hard to photograph place, although the picture is fuzzy and tough to see what's underwater. it's distinguishable but fuzzy
-
I really liked this, so true , faith can conqueer fear, I know having faith has helped me through difficult times.
-
I do like that even better....good job.
-
Nicely done Joanne. And what a beautiful picture. Love it!
Anna.
-
I changed the last line. What do you think? - thanks for the comment - joanne
-
You took the picture? Oh cool! It is very lovely! I did enjoy the poem, and what I learned about it in your author's comment as well. Good job!
Krista -
b^^d
That was a very creative/ unique poem. I haven't seen anything like it. Nice job. -
nicely writen
this is a poem that is like gold!underwater major points
could be a little longer but it is wonderful a you are soooooo taltened.nicely writen
-
thanks so much for not just writing a poem , but also educating and providing such a beautiful picture. I for one had never heard of that fish...
Reenie
-
oh wow, i love that picture and the poem!
-
Great work! a nice lesson, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog" or Fish, in this case!
-
You learn something new everyday....and in the form of a lovely poem. Very creative and the write is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
~Brandi~ -
Very nice...I love diving as well. The last line "fear is conquered forever" threw me. I know what your saying, but who's fear isn't connected.... Good poem nonetheless.
-
Great
I enjoyed the read, learned what a tanka was and also a little bit about blennies. I feel far better educated than when I signed on! Thanks! And the picture is lovely too, even if it doesn't have a blenny in it. Hope the 125 new 8th grade students don't eat you alive like 125 blennies all ganging up on you at once. They seem like it, with their teeth bared, don't they! I am involved with preschoolers, they're much milder, if more snotty-nosed, specially in winter. -
Superbly written!
Beautiful picture and the words to go with it were very inspiring. Capturing the life in the ocean, communing with nature. Excellent work. I have just started looking at a few Tankas and this was done superbly. Thank you for sharing with all of us and keep up the great work.
Joyce
-
this is a briluiantly inspireing peaice. i loved it. the metophore (or at lest i think it was a metiphore) you used was great. it made me want to go out and do something ive never done before.
-
The picture is blenniless. I just used it because I liked it and it sort of went along with my own fear of "coming out" of my comfort zones - like having to face 125 new 8th grade students next Wednesday. Thanks for the wonderful comment. I hope all is well with you. Blessings and much love to you today and always - joanne
-
Excellent
Wow you take pictures underwater? So cool, great work, but I thought tanka was about love? Who knows anymore it seems the rules are all trashed (thank God) I loved this myself, great job! -
Very well done!
Interesting and informative... and with your own photo to compliment it... this is the best piece in this contest I've read yet.
I guess the Blenny wasn't home when you called? ! LOL!
Good luck
Kyla
-
Very nice picture, and tanks for the tanka. I didn't know the Blenny was a wee hard fish, and you expressed that view with clarity and brevity. Best Wishes.
-
How cool, Joanne!!! Not only is this a wonderful tanka, but I am amazed at your picture. Is that the little guy on the lower left hand side? I know there are many kinds of blenny and they can get up to 7 1/2 inches down to the little bitties like your guy. How fun to see this. I admire you guys for the adventures you get to go on-what awesome experiences.
-
Great write Joanne and nice picture. Love,Sherry
Edited on Aug 25, 10:15 p.m. because ''. -
A tanka is a haiku followed by two lines of 7 syllables - so Americanized it's a five line poem with a syllable count of 5-7-5-7-7. Thanks for reading and commenting. I live to dive! - joanne
Edited on Aug 25, 9:51 p.m. because ''. -
Ah, you SCUBA dive! I love diving (visit Key Largo! They have some lovely sites).
This is fab picture, too. Very nice composition: the head of coral brightened outside the hole, the light beyond the hole, and the darkness in between. I adore the focus point and the blurriness besides it.
As for the poem, you've done a great job of capturing the spirit and bravery of a little blenny - despite his size he is still tough. I like the idea. He is indeed courageous. I like your line "fear is conquered forever"
Nicely done. What format of poetry is this?
Keep up the good work.
-
What a beautiful picture. It certainly fits the poem perfectly. The idea of a tiny fish like that being such a scrapper is wonderful. You capture the essence of the bravery that fish must have to move out from his safe haven - well done.
Adding your comment:
1 - 25 of 25
6 old applause
