Benjamin

If I had to choose
between you
and a talking octopus
I would choose you

And, together, we would
protect the octopus
from well-intentioned
but ultimately destructive
scientists
who would want to know
how, lacking vocal chords,
the octopus forms words

He would tell us stories
of the beauty
and isolation
in the dark, vast sea
and he would weep
cold tears of loneliness
for his childhood
when, no bigger than a grape
he drank in the delights
of discovering new worlds
his three hearts pulsed
thrilled by adventure
through ocean currents
and caves
the eels could never catch him
they tried, every day
with their snapping teeth
but he was so fast
and his ink was so black

As he talked
he would wrap his tentacles
around our fingers and arms
and he would squeeze
to tell us
something
even a talking octopus
can’t find the words
to say