The Limpetfish

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