CANCERIAN SHUFFLE
Her hard shell protected her
Suspicious,
tentative,
eyes sharpened to a point
fixed on the beach sand
she shuffled back and forth,
never settled in,
never happy.
The sand rubbed her underbelly
as she slid towards the surf.
She cast a bug eye
looking for scorpions
known to prowl in the area.
She touched her claw
in the water
gingerly.
The water was cold with the winter chill,
but would warm in the spring.
She wanted a long peaceful swim,
predator free.
She was surprised
when the scorpion
offered her a ride
to love island.
Could a scorpion be trusted?
She refused,
and the scorpion vowed
to keep asking
until she said yes.
After all,
hadn’t he been willing
to leave the desert
without knowing
how to swim?