Poema de Roya Hakakian -The tale of the elusive octopus-

Published Monday, July 18, 2005 by Spyder | E-mail this post

The tale of the elusive octopus

Once upon a time
There was a little octopus
With long elegant tentacles
When she whirled in the water
The starfish gazed
The seahorses boasted:

"Watching our lithe leaps
the octopus has learned well."

(Only the old watchful whale
knew better.)

If she grabbed
It was lovingly
And only upon invitation
What she grabbed
Thrilled
At the feel of her enveloping arms
And her soft embrace
That took all in
became a world

The lantern fish
envied her brightness
The mermaids
thought her a flaunt

(Only the old watchful whale
knew in silence.)

These days
She is somber
Her round graceful form
In reticent rebellion
As her own kind
have called her the devilfish.

She will leave these waters soon.

If you see her in your seas
Behold!
Surrender and be held
By the magnanimity of her beauty
Or the sweeping reality
of a once impossible dream
Will strike you petty
And mar your vision.

Then, before you regroup
She will be gone.

(The old watchful whale
Hinted at this much.)

Sunday, April 30, 2000