From the rock pools in the west

westward to ocean, as the slow tide falls away -
then stranded among the rocks that hug the shore
dancing in her receding freedom until 

beautiful in captivity the rockpool lies
filled with soft colours, the wavering seaweed
flows gently and discloses for us now

blurred shining veins of rock and lucent shells
under the light-shot water; and here repose
small quiet rockfish and dimly glowing algaes

the transparent whiskered shrimps that dart

their flitting dance take centre stage

to an audience of spellbound periwinkles

and sleeping sea-anemones that have closed
their tender fronds and will not now awake until
the waves of liberation return once more