Tropical Paradise, part 1

Today we did our first dive in a few years--our first dive with the new gear, bought to replace the gear we lost in the fire.  The reef here in Belize is quiet, but alive.  Today we swam with a sea turtle, ramoras, sharks, and all manner of small fish.  I had forgotten how peaceful it can be underwater.

The boat bucks and I roll
backwards beneath the water's skin.
I am the alien here, bug
eyed, pucker mouthed, fighting
the gear's pull down always down.
Air thrusts up with each harsh
breath, flat and metallic on my tongue.
Ramoras eye me, align round
suckers to my seal black pelt
and swim on. I have nothing
they desire.