August 24, 2009
Sayonara for a Cyanea
![[IMAGE] jellyfish](/blog/blogpix/elegy.jpg)
…about the musicElegy for a sea kitty.
I’ve featured Lion’s Mane jellyfish on these enpixelated pages once or twice before, but they’re always so fascinating to me that I can’t help but share this one with you. It’s roughly 18 inches wide, and in the process of ending its life, which spans only about a year. I hope it was a pleasant one filled with everything that a jelly might desire. Did it float around to wonderful places with comfy temperatures? Get enough sex? Eat out at some great spots, enjoying the background music of the passing Orcas’ latest hits? I hope so.
I often see them washed up along the beach here where I walk by the house, and I love to kneel and study them closely. Tempting as it is to touch their soft, gel-like skin, I resist. Even in this weakened state, they can offer quite a zippy sting that is officially referred to as, “seldom fatal.” I don’t care for those two words next to each other.
In life these jellies are magnificent and graceful creatures; in death, they remain beautiful as the sunlight reflects deep oranges and maroons from their weakening bell. Unnaturally upturned edges plead to the sky, as the rocks below coax them gently to the shore with each wave. It’s inspiring to witness a creature that’s as gorgeous in death as it is in life.
Glenn Buttkus said,
August 24, 2009 @ 5:57 am
Another fine Monday morning as you post into the wee hours of it, before most of us are up and about, you still up with your late night composing and projects. What a terrific insight into the world of jellyness. Listening to ELEGY@2:43, I felt just the appropriate amount of awe and sorrow for the JF. Odd, I listened twice to the music, and I thought I heard a horn in the trio, but it must have been the violin, right? Maybe just my filter in my inner ear being out of alignment. I never get enough cello, any day, all day. Great piece of music, and so appropriate for your imagery and your prose. The Shapiro poem of the week follows:
Lion’s Mane
The Lion’s Mane jellyfish
are always so fascinating to me
so I can’t help but share
this one with you.
It’s roughly 18 inches wide,
and in the process of ending its life,
which spans only about a year.
I hope it was a pleasant one
filled with everything that a jelly
might desire.
Did it float around to wonderful places
with comfy temperatures?
Get enough sex?
Eat out at some great spots,
enjoying the background music
of the passing Orcas’ latest hits?
I hope so.
I often see them washed up along the beach
here where I walk by the house,
and I love to kneel and study them closely.
Tempting as it is to touch
their soft, gel-like skin, I resist.
Even in this weakened state,
they can offer quite a zippy sting
that is officially referred to as,
“seldom fatal.â€
I don’t care for those two words
next to each other.
In life these jellies are magnificent
and graceful creatures;
in death, they remain beautiful
as the sunlight reflects deep oranges
and maroons from their weakening bell.
Unnaturally upturned edges plead to the sky,
as the rocks below coax them gently
to the shore with each wave.
It’s inspiring to witness a creature
that’s as gorgeous in death
as it is in life.
Alex Shapiro August 2009
William Belote said,
August 31, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
The Orca’s latest hits have nothing on your Elegy, which honors the life of your neighbor, the late Lion’s Mane jellyfish, and honors us all. Beautiful pictures too, of course. Enjoy the waning Summer light.
Mike Wills said,
September 6, 2009 @ 2:08 am
Nicely done, Alex….
Alex Shapiro said,
September 6, 2009 @ 2:13 am
Thanks, guys! 🙂