The Old Lonely Octopus

Down in the water dark deep and cold

In a sea of shadows, a lonely old

Octopus called Mr O looked grey and half dead

As he clung to rocks on a soft seabed

Thinking how the years of his life would end

Never knowing what it was like to have a friend

As busy fish shifted and hurried to hide

Avoiding Mr O with his half-closed eye

Day after day and in between stones

He watched sea creatures turn into bones

As they grew weary or were snared by string

Or cans and bottles and plastic things.

He lay there swaying from side to side

Ignoring the restless movement of tides

When two sea snakes slipped silently by

Sneaky and sniggering nasty and sly

‘He’s only the lonely old octopus

And so very ancient he’s older than us.’

One said to the other, ‘don’t get too near

He smells of dead molluscs. Well, that’s what I hear.’

Then Claude a curious inquisitive crab

Stretched out his claw and tried to grab

Part of Mr O and tickle under an arm

Never thinking for a moment, it would do any harm

The Octopus frowned and swivelled his eye

‘I’m not very ticklish so you’re wasting your time,’

Swinging his arms and stifling a yawn

‘I’m so very bored. Is it nighttime or dawn?’

‘Cheer up,’ said Claude ‘I don’t feel sore

Even though I was born with only one claw

Why can’t we be friends and wander around

And discover new places without making a sound.’

‘I have never complained, and you won’t hear me moan

Over time I’ve got used to living alone.’

‘But ‘said Claude ‘why not meet squads of sea-snails?

They’ll come out to greet you although they look very frail.

Or watch fish who can fly and some who can walk

And viper fish who you know, love to talk

They won’t judge you, ignore you and they never condemn

You’ll be accepted and treated just like a friend.

Mr O changed colour blinked and he sighed

‘I’m a solitary soul, I really can’t lie

I wish I was different and could drift with the tide

But being who I am makes me feel sadness inside.’

Claude looked very thoughtful as he stood politely behind

‘What a shame, I so hoped you would change your mind.’

 Then, like two characters at the end of a show

 They vanished into shadows where humans can’t go.