Dead Seal
slumped on the tide line,
mottled pink, exposed,
something has been picking at it;
six city workers
in high vis vests
with a garbage bin, a shovel
and a shroud of clear plastic
discuss the path forward.
The challenge from Brian over at dverse is to write a poem …… “capturing a moment in your verse”
Stopdraggingthepanda 
The title gives me goosebumps. I wonder if it was an accident, and not the seal’s fault.
LikeLike
Not sure Grace, hard to tell!
LikeLike
That is tragic! I wonder what happened to the seal and what the next steps to be taken are.
LikeLike
Yep, it doesn’t happen that often in Vancouver, in fact it’s pretty rare.
LikeLike
Too many dead things washing up. I hope the wildlife people checked him out.
LikeLike
I’m sure they did, it’s the first time I have seen a dead seal at Spanish Banks.
LikeLike
This makes me sad. Any loss of life is tragic, and I agree it makes me wonder at what happened. So many lose their life due to our pollution and such. Of course it could have been natural, but I hope for a better end than a plastic bag and city workers in vests.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading Brian, as I said below it’s not a common sight in Vancouver.
LikeLike
Oh wow, a strong piece. A very sad subject, but the way you shone a light on it is unique. Thank you for sharing your experience and very interesting viewpoint – this is quite something.
LikeLike
Thank you Miriam, much appreciated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The description that seems almost mundane … like taking care of garbage makes me think of the live seal… I have met them kayaking, and a carcass like this makes me sad.
LikeLike
Yep, it was a sad sight indeed.
LikeLike
This exudes a starkness of reality that we often wish not to acknowledge, and yet, it is there nonetheless, chilly, empty but for the observation.
LikeLike
Thank you , that’s exactly the way it struck me.
LikeLike
We should all be discussing that path. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, this is so sad.
LikeLike
Yep, I’m afraid so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing freezes time like a corpse. You nailed this one.
LikeLike
Well put Ron, thanks for dropping by…JIM
LikeLike
That’s a vivid scene, for sure. Death imposes a lot of practical necessities on the living.
LikeLike
Thanks Eilene, that is exactly what the poem is about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Six city workers, a bin, a shovel, and a sheet of plastic seems woefully inadequate. Hoping it’s an isolated incident but something tells me it’s a portend.
LikeLike