the colour white — 
symbol of purity, clarity, serenity, wisdom….. and death

oceans deep 
our gardens fade  
in relentless choking 
heat 

sunshine swells 
we stretch content 
with shade cloth ever in 
reach  

blind eyes smile 
in careless pleasure 
a coral reef sprinkled 
white 

heedless yet 
of the colour death 
seeping the seabeds’ 
crown   

brittled teeth 
in death mask grin 
bared against the 
tide 

a ghost reef gleams 
under crystal jade 
an echo of lifetimes 
past 

our loss too 
we crabs in a kettle
blithely simmering into the night 

‘ocean fire’ was inspired by the ongoing work of the Coral Gardeners, as documented beautifully in their five-minute film ‘Ocean on Fire – Who listens when the ocean cries for help?’
https://youtu.be/YD7vhWFXjdI?si=40DJQHEikrUbUhTL