Gift of the Present

The turtle rests, snug in my palm,
A sun baked shell in a seaside pool,
Reflecting on the mysterious sky,
Tranquil in the waters cool.

A fleeting thought, whispered weight,
Brown-wing budgie, a laughing turtle
dove, chuckling, cocked its head
at me, and life, defying fate.

Gift of the present from a companion,
And though silent to the end,
It watches, counsels, listens, laughs,
Lingering presence of a long lost friend.

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This poem was highly commended for Poetry Object 2013

Judge's notes:
This poem surprised me with its use of meter, its enjambment that emphasised the link between turtles and turtle doves, and its skilful assonance, consonance, and alliteration.

~ Rachael Briggs, Judge, Poetry Object 2013