The Octopus by Kath Norgrove

Photo by Janayara Machado on Unsplash.com

Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea
The Common Octopus is a sight
But if it tickles you with its tentacles,
You might get a nasty fright!

Seeing those large eyes
With its massive bulbous head
Appearing from the gloom
It did fill me with dread

One of its little charms or not
Which it uses to search and grab
Is its eight distinctive suckered arms
Seeking out crayfish, mollusc and crab

It can hide in plain sight
Lurking in the murky depths close by
Matching surrounding colours, patterns, and textures
Then emerging to terrify

It has venomous saliva and
Beaklike jaws, that can deliver a nasty bite
Used mainly for subduing prey
I know that now, but in hindsight

They are considered the most intelligent of invertebrates
In tropical and temperate waters, they are found
They can grow to just over a metre
And weigh up to 22 pounds

It had startled me, appearing suddenly
Though now I think it just came to say hello
As curious as the land puss
But I just had to go

I'd been to Svalbard in July
A birthday treat for me
I'd dipped my toes and submerged myself
In the icy cold Arctic Sea

I hadn't stopped in for long
It had been absolutely freezing
A small iceberg had floated by
And I came out screaming

Fast swimmers, Octopi can jet forward
But not as fast as me
Departing from the water, up the beach
Quicker than from the polar sea!