Crabella's Tales

in a tide pool in a rocky shore
Crabella, the mother crab so big and fat
lived happily with her crablings three
bringing them up by the sparkling sea

she was a good mother who provided
her crablings with love and sustenance
she always gave them good advice
to respect others of sea, air and land

she admonished them to walk
with pride, head held high sure and true
ignore all evil walk the straight and narrow
though her crablings were always baffled

mother dear, they said in three tones
we love you but you don’t walk straight
and your eyes look at the skies
you can’t even hold a baseball bat      

you walk sideways with claws up
as if you’re giving perpetual obeisance
to one who might just serve you up
on a plate with dip of chili and mint

Mother Crab was quite insulted
ungrateful little crabs she thought
she gathered them around her
and started her fantastic tale

once a long time ago in the ocean
I served a mermaid Queen
In her room as wardrobe mistress  
Creating dresses for her in all fashion

You don’t walk away from a queen
you see, you back away after you curtsey
as I always stood at the corner
I had to move sideways discreetly

Years of serving cramped my joints
now they all twisted and bent
years of sliding made me as I am
now I am stiff, even my eyes bug out

The crablings didn’t know what to say
their mother had more adventures
and fantastic tales to share
accepted her for what she shared

They giggled at their mother’s sideway gait
laughed as she scuttled in a sideway dance
and together they ran around happily
scrabbling sideways as their mother did.