THE SCORPION AND THE CRAB.
She crawled on the beach
carefully.
She peered out
from under her shell.
Suspicious.
Tentative.
Eyes sharpened to a point
fixed on the beach.
The sand rubbed her underbelly
and she slid carefully
toward the surf,
looking for scorpions
that were known to prowl in the area.
She touched a claw
to the lapping water
gingerly.
It was chilly from the winter
warming to spring.
She longed for a long peaceful swim
predator free.
She was wary
when the Scorpion offered her a ride
to love island.
Could he be trusted?
She said no;
but, she wanted to say yes.
The scorpion had himself
been stung
but vowed to ask
again and again
until she trusted.
He was willing to leave the desert
without knowing how to swim.