the walrus

The Walrus

“I’m not myself,” the walrus said
“for I have eaten a fish
that has rattled my innards and gone to my head
It’s a crazy sort of a dish

On days when the starfish and sunfish dance
On days when the sea is ablaze
That’s when my heart is filled with romance
for all that crosses my gaze”

The lobster replied, “What a silly old goat
He’s befuddled beyond compare
And the croakings and creakings that come from his throat
are a marvel of nothing fair”

“Aye, aye,” said the sturgeon, whose fins were all wet
but his mind was as sharp as a tack
“Neptune himself would shed tears, I admit,
but the walrus is taken aback”

So they smiled and nodded and shook hands all ’round
and bobbed like a bird on a shelf
And the guest of honor that day could be found
was the walrus, who was not himself

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© 1990, Kendall Brown