Magdalena Bay
Daybreak’s gift was glassy water, calm air, and gray whales too numerous to count.
The day’s colors were gray, mottled gray, light gray, pale gray, some pale beige (sand dunes), green (water), more shades of gray, bits of black and white on gray (barnacles on whale), and tidbits of orange on gray (whale lice). It was a gray (whale) day.
The day’s textures were surprisingly soft. Gray skin was soft, smooth and tender, and had an unexpected sponginess. Sand on the dunes was soft as silk between bare toes.
The day’s emotions? For me: elated, excited, with a longing to understand another creature. For the jackrabbit on shore who stood motionless with ears erect, and watched with big, black eyes: focus and attention. For the whales? I can only guess, but I can tell you what it looked like: curiosity, playfulness, exuberance. For a small group of adult whales in pursuit of a female: desire. For a gray whale mother with her calf: patience.
If only I could understand another creature.
Daybreak’s gift was glassy water, calm air, and gray whales too numerous to count.
The day’s colors were gray, mottled gray, light gray, pale gray, some pale beige (sand dunes), green (water), more shades of gray, bits of black and white on gray (barnacles on whale), and tidbits of orange on gray (whale lice). It was a gray (whale) day.
The day’s textures were surprisingly soft. Gray skin was soft, smooth and tender, and had an unexpected sponginess. Sand on the dunes was soft as silk between bare toes.
The day’s emotions? For me: elated, excited, with a longing to understand another creature. For the jackrabbit on shore who stood motionless with ears erect, and watched with big, black eyes: focus and attention. For the whales? I can only guess, but I can tell you what it looked like: curiosity, playfulness, exuberance. For a small group of adult whales in pursuit of a female: desire. For a gray whale mother with her calf: patience.
If only I could understand another creature.
