Completely dry
Yet surrounded by liquid.
The ledge, the ledge, the ledges,
Stepping down beneath the sea.
The occasional child,
The occasional wave,
Replenishing the reef
And maintaining life.
So much life
Unknown to the eye
Yet knowing
Learning,
Touching,
One can open
Another world
One that exists when dry.
The poking,
The prodding,
The sea star here,
The mussel there,
All sustain,
All provide,
Without one another
All will die.
Yet when the tide comes to rise
All that is dry
Is covered again
All that is visible
Vanishes.
And some linger

For that time once again
To see a world few notice.