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