The sleek-skinned seal waddles up from the sea
onto the sandy beach, singing of fish—
the dish he’s just swallowed delightfully.
That salmon was delish, and now I wish
to find a dessert of equal fine fare,
the greedy seal croons, his long white whiskers
like playful guitar strings whooshing the air.
Then the wallowing walrus (a trickster
if ever a walrus was one) replies
in slickster glee, I’ve got just the candy
to satisfy your sweet tusk, make your eyes
light up, and your flippers dance! See! Dandy
licorice there on the ground! The duped seal
gulps the black stick down, then blurts a pained squeal—
shocked by a mouthful of electric eel!
Roger Armbrust
March 11, 2012
