When Dolphins Bring Gifts

These creatures sense changes
in currents ~ during the pandemic,
dolphins bring gifts ~ sea-treasures
to lure disappearing humans back ~
sea sponges, barnacled bottles, coral.
 
For cod, dolphins wash ashore
King Neptune’s crown ~ for tuna,
they spit out pirate-gold from underwater
caves ~ for a taste of herring, they nose
their way through shipwrecks for pearls
in oysters and clams.
 
The dolphins are intelligent ~
they know humans have bleached
the reef ~ for a taste of mackerel
they carry lumps of white.