We slowly drift out of our plastic patio chairs
as he hauls the white bucket onto the cobblestone
to get an expert opinion on the six crabs within.
It seems impossible to fit so many crabs inside
so he reaches in, hesitates, shifts the bucket,
and reaches in once more to pull out the first crab.
It doesn't move. The blue pinchers don't snap,
the legs don't kick out in a desperate escape bid.
It remains on the pavers where it's set.
The second crab also doesn't try to defend
but its mouthparts flex slowly, minutely.
A third crab joins the first two on the stones,
none of them moving their legs or pinchers
from within the circle of pale bare toes.
No comments:
Post a Comment