Tardigrade

The name had left me in a moment of astonishment and there was so much more to know of ‘Tardigrada’ Roly-poly moss piglets or chubby bears of the water Death-defying wee manatees, living in worlds liquid If one could slow right down to live so long, would I go into hibernation, rise years later to resume living, rage at the changes wrought, while I was a dreamer, ache in longing, for loved ones, now dusting the sea...? Denied perfect conditions, they hang on, suspended Eden found, they'll die in two years, of well-lived life (7/27/2020: '84 Kha Shing; Bethel)