black smoker
In the dark, sullen depths
of the ocean, the sea
where life shouldn’t exist
it does: we can see
in the thick black water
slow moving denizens
walking, swimming, easing
into form and life again
what I breathe
poison to them would be
what feeds their bodies
my mind does not perceive
yet despite all odds
there they grow
and to visit and learn
we will go
Black smokers were discovered — or at least first widely publicized only in my childrens’ generation. The idea of “life” and what constitutes life, and where it can be found, and how adaptable it really is has been rethought more than once in my lifetime.
Life: beautiful, diverse, surprising and ever-changing.
And found, in the most unexpected places!
For more information, here are a few sites that look reliable and accessible.