suckerfish
mutualist
By Alan Bern
when I ride our Devil Ray
with a Remora partner
down we travel our suction
increasing as we descend
what a fabulous spinplunge
down beside rocky Sea Mounts
unlike those skyview dreamtrips
this view is open water
and when we reach bottomshelf
and the fishing for plankton
is finished up from the cold
our Devil Ray travels quick
to embrace the surface warmth
again float atop even
jump up and out full pregnant
with a pup rippling under
her skin ready to be born
we hold on for future tours
we fit so well here side-
by-side to our Devil Ray’s
amazed and ample face
also published at Saw Palm Florida Literature and Art