11 Mar 2006, 12:30am
Writing
by David


Poem with and without Legs

Jellyfish goes to the

auction: and Jellyfish

finds his legs there,

2 for $10, or a little

higher if there are

other bidders.

Jellyfish has to

borrow an arm, to lift

the felt paddle which

signifies “I want you.”

He has to have the

paddle the arm that is

the important thing.

For the sea has had

pity on him: he wants

to sell her the legs

back and soon,

soon he’ll be able to.

Did you guess?

Maybe you guessed.

That is where he

keeps them: tables

& tables & tables

of sharp knives.

That is the showroom,

the flea-market stall.

Here is a customer:

Can you get it

for me? Oh yes,

be careful. That one,

the little abalone

golden-handled

one in front. Give it

to me. I want it.

When do you see

the living?