Hammerheads

gray0328

 

The water flattens like a held breath.  

Beneath, the stingray rests—a coin waiting,  

its tail tucked sharp, a quiet question.  

The sand folds over secrets, blind and soft.  

 

Then the hammerhead drifts into view.  

Its jaw hangs wide, a slow-moving moon.  

Eyes scan the dark beneath its shadow,  

listening to the whisper of pulsing wings.  

 

The shark presses its hammer to silence,  

measuring the heartbeat buried in sand.  

When the stingray quivers, jolts to flee,  

the shark moves faster than sound or fear.  

 

It locks a fin, stills the fleeing flight.  

Barb flicking, offering venom as last prayer.  

The shark’s teeth are ancient and certain,  

they hold memory before it is history.  

 

The sea swallows fear like salt and tide;  

the stingray untethers, becomes empty light.  

Wings gone, sand scattered in its absence.  

The hammerhead glides on, unheard, unseen.

  • Author: gray0328 (Offline Offline)
  • Published: July 12th, 2026 02:57
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 14
Comments +

Comments3

  • nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

    good write

  • rhmn_7

    This breathtaking poem captures the brutal dance of the ocean, where the hammerhead’s silent hunt transforms the stingray’s desperate defense into a tragic surrender. Nice poem!

  • sorenbarrett

    Beautiful imagery in this poem of life and death where preditor and prey match wits and only one wins. Nicely done Gray I have swam those waters and it feels very real set in color not just black and white of type.



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