The Limpetfish
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Based, in part, on the 1964 movie "The Incredible Mr. Limpet," starring Don Knotts
The milquetoast Henry Limpet looks
through horn-rimmed glasses at the books
and four dull office walls each day.
He dreams someday he'll get away.
The sailor's life to Henry seems
the stuff of grand and noble dreams.
Attempts to join the Navy fail.
He faces facts; his ship won't sail.
Denial of his fondest hopes
confound his mind. He walks and mopes
for many hours--then suddenly
before him lies a deep-blue sea.
He knows about the oceans. How
can this one be before him now?
Confused by this discovery,
he falls into this strange new sea.
He doesn't drown as you might think.
He transforms before you could blink
your eyes, and now the Limpetfish
will have great deeds to accomplish.
The townsfish soon become aware
this new one's special and declare
they've never seen so smart a fish.
To make him Emperor's their wish.
He wears a crown in this new world,
a splendid one that's gemmed and pearled.
When asked to name their kingdom, he
says, "Limpet World the name shall be."
His former life's a memory
dimmed by the grandeur of this sea.
The gaping void has now been filled;
his constant need for meaning, stilled.
199 words
posted 11-26-15
March 25, 2018, entered in Deborah Guenther Beachboard's Fantasy Poetry Contest placed 3rd
September 8, 2019, entered in Caren Krutsinger's Your Choice 333 Words Maximum Contest
Copyright © Janice Canerdy | Year Posted 2015
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