Drawing up crabs out
of vast black swimming
depths – I killed limpets

with a borrowed knife
I stuck the hook through
and my conscience

twitched with the piercing –
unknown primal guts
dripped onto fingers

I dropped the line quick
and after minutes
of my stunned-keen gaze

I brought them up – they
faded from the rift,
scrabbled bright plastic

murk green crabs, my brothers –
The adults taught me
how quick to catch them

I deep-stared at them
with them, swam the pool
a fear taken hold.

I threw them back in