Best Hermit Crab Poems
he left behind his home of coral
in search of better things,
breaking vows and flaunting morals,
cutting loose from tightening strings
trapped between the sea and land,
he scuttles 'cross an endless beach,
stranded on the burning sand,
he seeks a place he'll never reach
nirvana, no; nor heaven's gate
is not his wanted destination,
a hiding place, before too late,
to save him from incineration
t'would seem to be a simple chore;
find shelter from his self made hell
to listen to the ocean's roar,
inside another's empty shell
but all the seashells remain filled,
safe haven is denied this day;
his beating heart shall soon be stilled
and carcass will be washed away
he lies upon the burning sand,
hot sun begins to do its deed,
to end this life with God's own hand
the homeless hermit's finally freed
Rex the hermit crab carried a trashed shell
that reeked with a horribly rotten smell.
He intently scrubbed
till his claws were nubbed
then resolved to move into a hotel.
Copyright © 2010 By Caryl S. Muzzey
Sixth Place Winner ~ "Sea Tale Limericks” Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Carolyn Devonshire
March 4, 2010
Crab in seashell squats
Until hermit does not fit -
House swaps are a must.
Scurrying across the ocean floor
leaving faint tracks in the sand
moving sideways to go forward
nothing mapped or even planned.
The sand is always shifting
ever changing the terrain
all creatures are in hiding
misdirected or insane.
Go on and on forever
waving claws in wild defense
abandoned ocean creatures know
that none of this makes sense.
Seaweed waving, beckoning
hypnotic dance of death
trust not the grinning clown fish
blowing bubbles with their breath.
The ancient crusty oyster shell
protects the tender meat
a grain of sand the irritant
spits pearls in mock defeat.
The current is relentless
overwhelming constant motion
and serenity's unheard of
at the bottom of the ocean.
Endless curse, my love for you
A dirty life, my ritual of solitude
Quiet days and empty nights
Foggy mornings and everything that comes with lack of sleep
And silence abound
My lover, the ground
Shaking off the morning shakes
Pop a pill and try to catch a bus
Withdraw in my homey shell
A hermit crab moving at the speed of life
Swept up in tides
A bone-crushing ride
Another day, another death
Facing how my apathy is breaking down my base
I can't stand up, I can't fight back
It's easier to just let the stars around just pass me by
It's just how it goes
And thus, silence drones
A profession based on shaking hands
A difficult life for a boxer with no arms
A ticket bought with a golden voice
Anxiety to ride grows now that my cords have been cut
A loss of one's self
Stuck on the shelf
Sleep in, miss another day
Mother's growing worried and my voice mail's getting full
Lose another twenty pounds
A diet is much easier when you can't afford to shop
Bathing in light
Computer's blight
Crank out another project
Make the day's wages so I can keep the water on
Apologize for the delays
See the saccharine words flow by that don't wipe up the ink
A blot on a page
Became the whole stage
Making love to rum and coke
But it doesn't make it easier to make it through the night
Chafes and burns and vomit stains
Rise to the occasion and move to keep myself alright
Puppet on strings
The crown of the king
Shout out into the black night
Until the sirens flash and send me running back alone
Slam out further angry words
The music of this keyboard is all that keeps it from collapse
A desperate cry
The knave shall comply.
a squatter or scab,
drags his house, like a shell cab,
that's the hermit crab!
pincer-like movement
mollusc shell host shifts crab wise ~
life clings to low tide
Wild Animal Haiku Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin
Syllable counter PS 5/7/5
04/11/22
the hermit crab lives
true to its given name through
its life lest mating
Date: 08/27/2019
hermit's shell
feeling way too tight of fit
had to go
off it slipped
as naked crab stole a conch
clad in nacre pearl
-Let's see Cortinario with fattened foot
If you answer me, who says
To everyone who sees him:
If my mouth opens
You'll open too.
Clytocibe: -The Flycatcher
From the Cathedral of Burgos.
-Very well Cortinario
You know what you know.
-Today are you going to take the mules to water
At the fountain in Ejido?
-Why do you say that?
-Because when you come for water
From the hermitage where I meditate
I feel the horseshoes.
-Well, you're going to feel them even more
When the crab puts you
In the cave.
-Oh no. Not that.
-What do you mean no!
You know: saying “oh no”
Is like saying *******.
-Shut up, silly boy.
Pray without sorrow
For at the foot of the altar awaits you
The Devil who watches over you
With a paschal candle
Lucent in his hands.