Massive, solid, yet soft, he blended into the rocks,

But even at this distance she could see his whiskers.

Coarse crags laced with seaweed his resting place,

He lay alone, no friend or family or enemy in sight.

She sent her sound to him across the black sand;

Above the rolling and roaring surf crashing near,

He heard her greeting and lifted his face towards her.

"Hello over there! Yoo-hoo, what's up?" she hollered.

After a long, anxious pause she waved, and he knew

He would share his space, after all, in the setting sun.

Taking his afternoon rest, his well-deserved reverie,

He would have to deal with more than seagulls today.

This tall animal on two legs motioned to him again.

What was he to do - call back? use sign language?

What did she want, this stranger entering his home?

But he remained still, silently following her climb

Across the dark rocks and sand to higher grasses,

Until she disappeared above him into the clear blue.

Did she know how long he waited, wriggling to see

Her form once more, foreign but friendly, before

He urged himself back into the beckoning waves,

Curtains coming down, as he ushered himself out?