Our First  Trip

                                                                                                                                                                                                This year our family went to camp, not just any trip was this, we were hoping for bliss

When we arrived the air was so damp

We were worried it might rain

Thankfully the sun shined bright

Which made the week alright

You would not believe the knowledge the kids would gain!

Swimming, snorkeling and diving they did

You’d think they’d be wiped out

But everyday they were out and about

And would you believe they saw a Squid?

After 10 years, divemaster Steve showed the way

From sleeping turtles & lobster under the sea

To the Kittiwake and eels… we let them be

But the best of the best, a squadron of 9 eagle ray!

As the week comes to an end

Our family is sunburned and tired

We were hoping for bliss but only got the kids wired

And they keep asking and asking “when are we coming again?”

   By Jennifer Halleck

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Cobalt , Sapphire, Aqua Blue

Cayman Island Water Hues.

Bonfire, Pirates, painting, smores

Kiddos  paradise to explore

Regulator, mask, fins, BC

Checked, rechecked (for me) by Capt.  Steve

Turtle, lionfish, stingray, eel,

Coral Reef Treasures excitingly revealed

Family, new friends a community

Kids Sea Camp packaged wondrously!

By  Lisa G

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Round bubbles drifting upward

Blue ocean beckons onward

Warm sun shines down

Tropical breezes blow

Eagle rays, parrotfish, turtles, & grouper

Kittiwake, Round Rock, Orange Conch & others

New friends, old friends, lionfish & Guy Harvey

Nancy, Steve, Margo & Arie

Water warm & very pleasant

Kids Sea Camp, Grand Cayman 2011

By  David Binns-Loveman

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Fish  Turtles   Sharks  Sad  Mad  Glad  Happy  No Matter What

I love Kids Sea Camp

And all the people here

I’m lucky I have another week

Because Diving Rocks!!!!

By Sophie A

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I am from Mexico & other Tall Tales

We heard about Sea Camp a long time ago.

Before we had Sophie, we knew we would go.

We waited until the time was just right

We paid our deposit and booked a long flight.

When we arrived, we were shocked to see

There were not one, not two, but three Sophie’s!

While we were here, Sophie told many tales

Of when a shark bit her hand, & she swam with the whales.

She claims she’s from Mexico, but we know it’s not true.

We checked her passport, she was born in Peru!

She was born in October, or was it November?

We thought it was may, but we can’t remember!

She may tell you a jellyfish has stung her eve

But don’t ask her parents , because she knows they’ll lie!

So tonight we leave Sea Camp and return to our lives

We met wonderful people & had many great dives.

Our girl learned of sea creatures both big & small,

While we dived the Kittiwake & the North Wall.

A big thanks to Margo for driving the bus

And the staff for taking such good care of us

This week is now over, but already we plan

To return to Kids Sea camp as soon as we can!

By Marlene Wens

Back on ’07,  we first took a leap

Looking for wonders & fun in the deep

Curacao, Roatan, Bonaire & now here

The children are growing & trying new gear

Eagle rays, turtles, lionfish , eels

Who knew that on Cayman we’d even see seals?

Zipping around on scooters so fast

All I wanted was for it to last.

This year I dove 12 feet from the top

Why does Kids Sea Camp have to stop?

The tank may be heavy, but just on the dock

Down at depth, I think “stingrays rock!”

Whether form shore or from boat, the snorkeling’s so dear.

Lobsters & squids, barracuda so near

Canyons & and flats, reefs & the wall

Provide endless pleasures for one & for all

The people amazing, the staff so dandy

Jenny, Shelly, Margo, Arie , & Andy

The swimsuits are drying, they’re now only damp

But we’re sure to return to Kids Sea camp.

By  Dank Family

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We come to the land of Cayman

To search for good times & laughs

We found Kids Sea camp

Where adventures are endless

And Margo supplies fun for all ages

Diving all day & all night

We find fish of all kinds

Groupers, rays, and flounders galore

Taking pictures of them in the crystal blue ocean

While zigging & zagging on our scooters

We feast on good food

While sharing stories of our findings

We then graduate earning certificates a plenty

Then comes time for leaving the beautiful island

To say goodbye, sadly we say farewell to our new friends

And leave the island of Cayman

By  Jacobson Family

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Return  to Grand Cayman

We returned to Grand Cayman for Kids sea camp again.

Greeted by Arie & his welcoming  grin.

Fond memories poured down like the afternoon rain.

So many adventures, we couldn’t wait to dive in.

Parting ways with our girls as the morning arrived,

We hoped at days end they’d recall  we’re alive.

My wife & I diving while renewing our love

The love for each other & creatures not seen from above.

Sword fighting with pirates & even Mom’s tug of war

Father/daughter night diving then eating some smores.

Cameras form Sealife, painting, scooter-diving and turtles galore

How could we possibly ask for anything more?

The smiles on the faces of the kids say it all

Instuctors, Divemasters, hotel staff & the rest

All make Margo’s Cayman Sea Camp the best!

By James Gourley

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Pristine blue waters & powder white sand

The perfect backdrop for this undersea land

Beneath the sea is where you’ll find me!

Exploring a world where there’s much to behold

Of fish, rays & turtles  & coral like gold.

And I will tell tales of sunken sails,

&  of reefs full of creatures with glistening features

At the end of the day when it’s time to depart

My memories will stay fond in my heart.

By Lisa & Jaidyn Jaacks

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Cayman Sea camp

Now how can you not smile

When  you hang around Sea Camp for awhile , got dives going for mile after mile

It’s just Grand Cayman style

While the Cobalt Coast takes care of your child, you can nap or dive or go hog wild from the back

Of the boat called the Atitude , Ask why it is spelled that way, or is that rude?

All week long we’ve seen turtles, squid & eels, & the kitchen staff has made great meals

We’re so worn out we hit the bed by eight, but to do it again tomorrow, we just can’t wait!

The USS Kittiwake is a really great wreck, let’s dive it again…what the heck

Tomorrow  we will dive with Rays in the City that will make our hair look pretty

The kids built a raft they hoped to sail, threw it off the dock for an epic fail!

I got to keep on diving & going full steam, next year with Kids Sea Camp is our new dream

Margo & Sven that’s our team

Step into the water & check the whole scene, when it comes to bubbles well,  I’m a friend

Like my scuba with the Dive tech team

The Comay Family

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The first day of Kids Sea Camp I was a turtle

The second day of Kids Sea Camp I saw a flying Gurnard

The third day of KSC we went to Caymana Bay & I played all day

The fourth day of KSC I joined the Seals & now I dive!!

The fifth day of KSC, I went on the big dive boat & jumped off the deck

I love KSC!!!  

By Sophie A. ________________________________________________________________

Cobalt Coast, no need to boast,

From the East End to the West side, & North Sound,

For Grand Cayman, there is no better diving around!

However, watch out for Jay, he is lurking around,

He is on the hunt, & he is everywhere to be found.

He is ready to shoot, however, no need to go,

With lights, camera, action- be sure to smile for the slide show.

The Tenata & Atatude, our chariots await, & the seas below us unfurl,

With BCD’s, masks, fins, & regs, we are aliens in this vast undersea world.

From coral & sponges, to fish galore, life is never a bore.

From tiny turtles, to seals, & adults, we has Sasy, Jr Open Water, Advanced Open water,

Adventures in Diving with photography & scooters & nitrox, we learn more 7 more.

The kids held yearling turtles at the Turtle Farm,

Released with prayers to survive in the big blue without any harm.

Several were seen at Slaughterhouse reef,

However the lionfish is hunted, since he has become the thief.

The Kittiwake in her day was grand,

Now a spectacular artificial reef, in sixty feet of sand

Next to the garden eels, she has something to tickle everyone’s fancy.

Now with all our gratitude, we thank you Nancy!

Lemon Reef, was not sour at all,

With a squadron of eagle rays, even dive master Steve had a ball!

With a free squid buffet, the stingrays came to play,

However, “Psycho” the green moray, just wouldn’t go away.

The sunset fades & this ends our stay

And though we part, memories & friendships will remain forever in our heart!

By Cam Savage

             KSC according to Caitlin

I loved the time I spent at camp, it was real fun for me

All the fish & shells & things that came out of the sea.

I loved the sand between my toes,  I loved the sun shining on my nose

I loved the weather nice & warm,  I loved the turtles at the farm.

I watched the stingrays as they swam, they had a funny face

We caught some crabs down on the beach & watched them race

I loved the time I had at camp, everything was fun, that’s why I think KSC is number one!

By Theresa Aranda

Now sit right back & you’ll hear the tale, the tale of a fateful trip

It started at the Kids Sea Camp with Dive tech & Cobalt Coast Strip

Nancy was a mighty diving woman, Margo brave & true,  seventy campers flew in that week                 for a seven day tour, a seven day tour

The eagle rays & turtles swam around the waving coral

And octopuses & lobsters were visiting the squirrel fish

Back on shore they had a bonfire, & pirates did attack

They had some smores & sparklers too & French fries had no lack

As kids race by from pool to dock, under the tropic sun

If not for the courage of the fearless moms, some sunburn would have begun

Some sunburn would have begun

They dove the Kittiwake that right, but that was not enough

They found some rays & groupers & eels, & tons of other stuff

They painted art with Margo’s help, & hermit crabs were found

And best of all was Stingray City, with dozens of rays swirling round

And every night the happy group saw photos from the day

Of creatures from beneath the sea, & the children at their play

At the end of the week the tired group, said “please don’t make us roam,

We’d rather stay & play some more, this has become our home” this has become our home

By John & Jack Dawson & Cam Cronwell

 K ittiwake wreck

I land beautiful

D iving’s a blast

S even Mile Beach

E el named “ Psycho”

A rt classes too

C ayman’s the place

A zure skies & seas

M eals are delicious

P atient instructors

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Wow! This is our 6^th Kids Sea Camp, the third in Bonaire,

So with all this experience I felt I should share

With all of the families who are new this year

That they should relax, there is nothing to fear.

All the hard work has already been done.

by Margo who wants our kids to be safe and have fun.

The dive shops, the rooms, the staff and the foods

Have been carefully checked to keep us in good moods.

Just let your kids learn, dive, swim, and play,

And enjoy the great place that we get to stay.

Be warned, that the kids develop bonds that are strong

And they will keep in touch even after they’re gone.

This year in November I found it had been decided

By Kids Sea Camp friends who through Face book & email confided.

The decision was made that they would again meet

The 3^rd week of July in the Bonairian heat.

So being the greatest parents alive

We agreed to return to Buddy Dive.

So parents each year be prepared to hear a plea

From your kids who want to go back to the sea.

And see all the new friends they have made

While diving and playing in the sun and shade.

It’s the great friends we have made that make us return again and again,

Thanks to Margo, Tom, Robbie, and Jen

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Learning to Dive

To always keep us safe, we have to have the tools

We learn the names, we learn the terms, we all must learn the rules

Not just words to memorize, but procedures we must know

Then we take the giant stride to see the realm below

Descend into the ocean, a new world to be seen

Aliens right here on earth majestic & serene

We can fly with proper weights & air in our BC’s

Protect yourself, protect the reef & you can dive with ease

Then we take flight & we soar, above the canyons far below

And we begin to feel the freedom that the birds already know

The world is ours but to behold, we never touch a thing

The reason is to not harm, but it could bite or sting

Then as we get ready to ascend back from the depth

The safety stops before the top & never hold your breath

Once above the fantasy & all is said & done

We have learned to dive quite safely, but most of all we’ve learned it’s fun!

By Steve Swanson 

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                                                Dr Seuss’s Ode to Sea Camp

The sun it did shine

It was too hot to play

So they sat in the house on that hot sweaty day.

Sam sat there with Hunter,

They sat there the two,

And they said how I wish I had something to do.

Too hot to go out.

Too hot to play ball.

Too hot in Florida to do

Anything at all.

All they could do was to

Sit     sit    sit

And they did not like it

Not one little bit.

Then something went “click”

Boy we were thick!

We looked at each other

   Our fingers went snap

We looked at each other

   Our hands they did clap

That’s it!

Margo you’re a champ

Let’s all go to Kids Sea Camp

Margo looked at us in our

Minds-eye bubble

“I gave my advice and you know they’ll be trouble!

I know it is hot and the sun way too sunny

But we can have lots of good fun that is funny

I know some good games

You can play if you wish

And parents you can come dive with the fish”

When are we going Mommy?

When? When? When?

We did it before

Let’s do it again

Sam, Hunter

Let us be

We will try it, you will see

We will try it in Bonaire

We will try it anywhere

In the wind, In the rain, In the dark, with a cane

In a storm, Was that thunder?  Nah!

Thumbs down

Let’s dive under

And look at us all,

Look at us know

We’ve had so much fun, we’re booked for Palau!

Well at least in our minds

We are ready to go

There’s just one small problem

The greenbacks, the dough!

So now we must wait

Fingers impatiently strumming

Until the next time the boys

Go gleefully running

Down the docks and into the Ocean

We’re here     we’re here

And this is always such fun.

By  Andy Hopkins & Family

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We started on the red eye to a destination called Bonaire

Unsure of what we’d find there or how our family would fare

Check in went smoothly & breakfast was divine

We were positively sure that our vacation would go just fine

With Jr open water we had Pepe & Martin at the helm

Mom & Dad on Harbour Lady has Scott & Natalie to show them the ocean realm

We worked on our set of scuba skills our buoyancy did improve

So soon we had the chance to experience the underwater thrills

Oh my what we found beneath the ocean’s surface

Puffers that  look like bulldogs, spotted drum’s as cute as pie

Trunk fish, scorpion fish, eels galore & alone seahorse we did spy

Our sunset cruise & jam session ended in our walk off the plank

Family dives & all our fun to Margo & Tom we must thank

Sadly all good thing must end & we say farewell to our Bonaire

Until we meet again we’ll see you all next year

 By Unterman Famil

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We came from places far & near

And brought our children we hold so dear

They studied & they learned & dove the depths

They laughed  & they played & snorkeled the reefs

By the end of the week they left us in awe

Of what they learned & what they became

Those children we brought from far & near

Have forever been changed by this week at the sae

Those children we hold so very very dear

Now need to return-same time next year                    

By Susan & Mitch

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There once was a cat I named Urtle,

Who really acted like a turtle,

He ran real slow

So how would you know,

That Urtle wasn’t a turtle.

He learned his p’s & q’s

And knew how to tie his shoes,

So how would you know

With Urtle so slow

That Urtle wasn’t a turtle

Urtle could jump so high,

He could almost touch the sky

He could be a flying monkey rat,

But who could imagine that?

Urtle wasa really a cat

Urtle was from Bonaire

He liked to use Conair

Kids Sea Camp was the best

With Urtle at the test

Other than the cats

I also liked the hats

You can’t forget the diving

Or how long it took arriving

Kids Sea Camp was the best

With Urtle at the test

Everything was great

I wasn’t even late

But the thing I liked the most

Was the flying monkey rat,  The Cat               

 by Morgan Tappero

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Kids Sea Camp

Diving skills put to the test!

A week so fun, no one wants to rest!

Thanks to Margo, Tom & Fraiser (even without Rogest)

Kids Sea Camp Bonaire is simply the best

By Tappero family

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So Bonaire we came- Kids Sea Camp at last!

New skills, old friends, each day a blast.

The sea full of wonders- so much to learn

We help each other & have no concerns

Parrot fish, trunk fish, Charley & eels

Spotted drum reef squids, what’s nipping at my heels?

Angelfish, trumpet fish, flounder & chubs

Tube sponge, hermit crabs & gulls stealing grub

Thank –you Margo & Tom for this week to hold

In our hearts all year-the stories will be told

May we return again; light the dive lamp

As we look forward to another Kids Sea Camp!

                           By the Olson’s

                    Tom, Gail, & Roger

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Wake up in the morning at 4:45

I’m shivering uncontrollably

I am still dead tired

Comb my hair; brush my teeth, than I am in a cab

I’m at the airport, in a plane on Delta airlines

One hour later & minutes in Atlanta, in Delta airlines

Watch diary of a wimpy kid.

4 hours n’ six minutes I’m in Bonaire

I see a parrot fish, an angelfish, a squirrelfish

Some scorpion fish, lobsters 2 turtles.

Some puffers, a tiny shark & a tarpon

I got stung by some jellyfish & got hit by fire coral

But when think pasta I begin to think Bonaire with the fish

But most importantly Kids Sea Camp with my Family

By Eliza Sallee

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Take off the adrenaline rushes into you and the force of the plane gives you

To your seat as you leave the airport

As you step of the plane, feel the warm breeze whip through your hair

And drift across your face like a smooth hand

The memories of last year make you smile & happy that you are there

And if you are new, the ocean is blue

And there are lots & lots of things to do

From tubing to donkeys it’s the best

I can tell you now Kids Sea Camp beats the rest

As you arrive at Buddy Dive you think Wow what a fantastic place

The people are nice the diving is great

This is not a place you could hate

So come & relax sit down at the bar

Maybe have a smoothie or 2

This is a place your best friends should come too

As the days roll by slowly, you see many cool creatures

Sea turtles that glide across the ocean so smoothly & gracefully

There’s also barracuda they’re scary, won’t bite if you disturb them

They’ll hurt you without a fight

In Bonaire the assortment of fish is fantastic, from angelfish to parrotfish

You will be able to see everything in the clear warm water

As the days wind down & the week goes on everybody had lots of fun

But then the day comes, the most dreaded day of all. When people say goodbye

And the plane takes off as you remember one of the best dive weeks EVER

  By  Matt Parker

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On Tuesday the divers on the harbour Belle

Were given another great story to tell

While preparing to dock, some divers were sent

From the bow to the stern, so off they went

During the transition we all appalled

It seems that one diver did not look

And instead of the rail grabbed the boat hook

So into the water went both hook & diver

But I’m happy to report, both are survivors

To avoid embarrassing the diver, I should keep a tight lip

But you have all probably already guessed, it was Skip    

   by Sciortino Family

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                                                                                                                                                                                                Poets we are not but we still give it a try.

We did not come to Kids Sea Camp to stay dry.

We had just re-certified & Scott had never even tried.

We had a week off & wanted to dive.

Brian & I went off on a boat with lots & lots of gear to tote.

Scott went to class & learned to clear his mask.

We were so proud that he gave it a chance.

He learned all his skills & got certified.

We went  to his graduation & did a high five.

Day dives & night dives, we saw lots of fish.

There was nothing more for which we would wish.

By the end of the week we were looking like pros.

We will be very sad to go.

We made so many new friends & there is always next year

So I guess we will be back with all of our gear.

By Debra Shannnon

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Diving In

Two worlds: one above, one below

Separated by what looks to be a clear sheet of glass.

Air: something we humans need to enter the world below.

We take a deep breath, jump in & exhale.

Slowly, we pass through the glass barrier, we sink into wonderment

Everything stands still, & we are welcomed into our other family

No, better! We are welcomed into a school of fish.

The coral waves at us as if to say “hello, how are you? Please look but don’t touch”

And if we are very lucky we are greeted by eel, turtle, ray, & even the elusive shark.

Now it’s time to come back to our other world.

We look up, take a breath, stop for safety, & then slowly

Push through the “ glass” & say “I’m okay, welcome me back!”      

    by Brian Clapp

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Kids Sea Camp Bunch

Here’s a story about a Padi lady, who was bringing up 2 little scuba divers

Both of them smelled like neoprene.. like their mother, the youngest 1 not even old enough to be a Sasy

Here’s the story of a rock n roller, who couldn’t live any further from the sea

He was a grown man from Danville, Illinois, jamming with his band boys, yes he was all alone

Until the one day when the diver met the rocker & they knew it was much more than a hunch

That this group would somehow dive together, that’s how they became the Kids Sea Bunch!

The Kids Sea Bunch, the Kids Sea Bunch, that’s the way they became the Kids Sea Bunch.

By MacDonald Family

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                                                                                                                                                                         When I enter the beautiful sea, and cool water hits warm me

What do I think about, I’ll tell thee, it’s that I really need to pee

If I could ask Neptune, King of the sea, a question to that high exalted potentate

“Exactly where do you pee?” And is a hurricanes sea surge rush, simply your attempt to flush

So when you see me emerge from the sea, holding tank & mask & fin

And smiling with a great big grin, you’ll never know if it’s cause a great fish I’d seen

Or is it because I’ve been pee in

Is it really so bad a task, compared to when fishes do it in front of my mask

And when your dive master wants you to have buoyancy

Is it so bad to get there after your pee

And isn’t relieving your bladder in the sea

Better than doing it on the ladder?

And are divers from Holland & France, I’m seeing the worst violators of this scene

And is that why their called “you’re a peeing?”

By Neal Seltz

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GALAPAGOS      2011

      The Stookey  Bunch     (to the Brady Bunch Theme)

This is a story

    Of a family named Stookey

That was sailing with five very crazy kids

Christian and Nelson were so frightened

    Until the KSC staff walked in

The kids were whining-

    Putting on their thick wet suits

    And the water was choppy, rough and cold

But when the sharks, rays and dolphins swam by

    It was all worth while

Then the whale shark

    Took our breath away

    As he silently glided by

Then much too quickly the dive was over

    And the strong panga guys arrived

Back to the ship for coco and snacks

     We’ll  need to add more weights to our belts

But it’s all worth it to dive at Darwin

    We wish it would never end

This is the end of our story

    But not the end of our diving adventures.

Teaching our children to love the oceans

    So they can protect it!     The End

By  Ken. Michele, Izzy Stookey

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       The Quest

 

We came to Darwin’s Arch from far and wide

    Hoping to see a whale shark, but so far been deprived.

The current is strong,

    Our wait has been long.

We’ve seen eels, hammerheads. Tuna and even an eagle ray,

    But our quest has been held at bay

Our parents promised us at least one

    Before our trip to the Galapagos was done.

Nelson’s videos are awesome but not enough,

    We want the real stuff!

We will listen closely for Christian’s shaker,

    Only that won’t be a faker.

Tomorrow will for sure be the day

    That  whale sharks did pass in the blue and made us say     HOORAY!!!!

By John Coniff, (12)  & Vanessa Clark

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The Galapagos

A long time dream

Finally enjoyed

With my kid

and all the members Of the friendly crew

Are showing us the wonders of this beautiful sea.

Hammers, “Galapagos” turtles and seals, dancing with the dolphins’

Surrounding me!!

And coming out of the blue, here is what we see,

A whale shark  for me.

By  Cristina & Carlos Castello

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                             Grand Moon

Grand moon

Beacon in the night

Bright

     Cold

         Alone

Mother Moon

Matron with the light

Bring  the whale shark home.