Inky, The Octopus Poem by jackilton peachum

(National Aquarium, Napier, New Zealand,
Apr.16,2016)

Holy Hanna-Inky is on the lam-gone-escaped!
Ah, no, we haven't notified the police-yet-
Hmmm-description? Identifying marks? Scars?
(Hard to say-they all look alike, you know-these octopoda!)
Well, now-he's about the size of a soccer ball.
Age? Indeterminate. Rather green, of course.
Four tentacles-not dangerous, no-you might say he's unarmed!
We tried to make him comfortable-catered to his every wish,
provided that nice spacious tank-but I think he took advantage:
someone left top of the tank open and off he went-
dropped to the floor, slithered eight feet, and down a drainpipe!
Oh, he's very smart-clever I'd say-at opening jars,
or building a house of coconut shells and riptides
at the bottom of the sea
-and ruthless-he left his partner Blotchy behind-
not a glance back, I'm sure!
To sea perhaps-or lonesome for the missus.
I don't think he'll be back.