Scuttle Poem by Abby Koning

jeweled crabs scuttling
*sparkle*
as sun progresses from east to west
or west to east
or whichever way the wind
b-l-o-w-s
opal eyes peering, shells writhing
pincers devouring
the limbs of loved ones
(the sun turns in disgust and vomits into the ocean)
flecking diamond trails
stones spouting from those red, red rubied-backs
a penny for your thoughts
a fortune for your flesh-eating
sweaty-faced and queasy, i shelter behind a rock
as crabs swarm about me, nipping at my
toes
a bite of my feet and the emeralds pour forth
canvas dragged as shoelaces spew from greedy mouth
gone are my legs
hips
stomach
arms
one crab settles itself upon my face
transfixed, i watch while the eyes of the creature
and the eyes of my own
reflect into each other, dual mirrors
and i scream,
for they are human eyes
and as the cannibalism proceeds
the sun continues to vomit darkness
again and again into the sea