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Sonnet to Giant Pacific Octopus Eating Crab

**Thanks to Jamie McNeely for submitting this question**

Question:
Sonnet to Giant Pacific Octopus Eating Crab Even though a captive on display, She stalks the Dungeness as skilled once-queen Of wild dominions, pouncing on her prey: Full ninety pounds of boneless fist pristine. With rasping tongue, she drills into its shell; salivary papilla exudes its dissolving poison, kills as well as simplifies digestion of her food, The paying public pushes, peers through the glass, Squints towards her darkened corner as she feeds, Then taps and tries to coax her out. How crass To interrupt fulfillment of her needs! At last she casts them midden, lays her eggs, Her threat the severed carapace, the legs. Jamie McNeely

Question:

Sonnet to Giant Pacific Octopus Eating Crab Even though a captive on display,
She stalks the Dungeness as skilled once-queen
Of wild dominions, pouncing on her prey:
Full ninety pounds of boneless fist pristine.

With rasping tongue, she drills into its shell;
salivary papilla exudes
its dissolving poison, kills as well
as simplifies digestion of her food,

The paying public pushes, peers through the glass,
Squints towards her darkened corner as she feeds,
Then taps and tries to coax her out. How crass
To interrupt fulfillment of her needs!

At last she casts them midden, lays her eggs,
Her threat the severed carapace, the legs.

Jamie McNeely

Last updated June 30, 2003 by Catriona Day.