At my muddy feet

dormant sea anemone

look like unused

condoms, still coiled

or khaki-green

sphincters, that

await the sea’s

semidiurnal

enema.

.
When touched,

they pucker

and squirt

to execrate

their version

of salty ire

from their

gelatinous

magenta centers

at my finger,

which is not

potential prey

.

then go back

to what we call

rest,
.

until the tide slides in

and invites

Hexacorallia tentacles

to open

.

so they can catch

more than a

moment

.

of vexation from a

land-bound giantess

.

me, speck on the horizon.
.

First published in Canada’s Journal of The Fantastic – Winter 2009
..