A turtle’s prayer

I am meandering and ancient

reptilian and patient

with wisdom that twinkles just like the milky way.

May stars and currents guide me

through silky, cool, clean uisce*

and may you always strive to pour your heart into the sea.

___________

I wrote the poem, A Turtle’s prayer, in 2022.

*Uisce, pronounced ish-keh, is Irish for ‘water’.

Green sea turtles

Green sea turtles are an endangered species that usually stay around the Caribbean, African coastlines, and the Pacific islands.

They eat a lot of plants. Chlorophyll and other plant pigments get stored in their fat. The tissues get a green hue from seagrass and algae pigments, hence the name ‘green sea turtle’.

Ice cold water

In December 2024, a green sea turtle was found on a beach in county Clare, here in Ireland. Atlantic sea currents had swept her thousands of kilometres off course.

The turtle had hypothermia, meningitis, and a respiratory infection. She had been attacked at sea, too. There were puncture marks on her shell. The turtle was transported to Dingle aquarium, where staff named her Solstice.

Solstice the survivor

Turtles can’t regulate their body temperature, so Solstice was temporarily paralysed from being in such cold water.

With tender loving care, she recovered. Six months later, when she was much stronger, Solstice was flown to a turtle hospital in the Canaries.

Ocean home

Solstice finally returned to the warmer waters much closer the Equator in May 2025.

Despite being on the brink of death in Ireland, she eventually recovered. This story fills me with joy and hope.

My Solstice painting is from a bigger series, which is part of the Foinse project.

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