Crab-Catching for the Turtles

photo by Rosmarie Herschbach Fry

Under an inch, the big ones.
When you dig in the sand and expose them
they run like hell to the water.
The chase is on!
And every time, I lose
and the crab escapes.
And did you know,
a sand crab moves only backwards?
Backwards, on ten legs,
and every time they win.

What it’s good for,
this crab-catching day,
is making us laugh at ourselves.
Imagine a full-size human
running after a thumb-sized being
who seems to disappear right after
you see through its camouflage grey.

If it were only up to me,
the turtles back would never
learn how to eat live prey.
I return to the Center humbled,
and with an empty bucket.
Next time, I’ll be quicker.

©Susa Silvermarie 2024