black ink octopus (1986)

black ink octopus



black ink octopus
strums thru water 
with hands of a hypnotist

weaving thru fish with beltstrap appendages,
makes quilts and sweaters
from sewn sharkskin

poseidon called out to the tailor
for a coat of sea trout& starfish

he strutted down by broadway after dark
with a pretty mermaid
reflected in his grey sponge eyes,

his coattails swam the night
clouding the past
like black ink octopus



1986 lawrence, ks.