The universe is full of unfortunate deadly first contacts
between man and ferocious previously unknown beasts.
But what about close encounters with a creature of a wholly other kind?
Photo by Jill Dimond on Unsplash
Naturalist on Galleon IV
I spy a strange creature in the field,
a tawny-orange thing
trying to conceal itself in a stand of busoleans.
It reminds me of long-ago Augusts and Julys
as it peeks under rocks, wades through swampy waters,
scours long grass, all in discovery’s cause.
Not knowing what threat the animal poses,
I tremble from head to toe.
Yet it is equally terrified.
Nervous as I am, I moved in closer
for a better view of its green head, bug eyes,
feelers sprouting from just above shell-shaped ears.
Its body freezes but for those antennae.
They twitch like rabbit ears.
We slowly size each other up as harmless.
It even inches towards me a little, offers a slimy hand.
Our fingers touch briefly. I say “Pleased to meet you.”
Some may call this a close encounter of the third kind.
But for me, it is just a step up from summer camp,
especially when it says “Bellaboobabela.”
by John Grey
John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident, recently published in Leading Edge, Space and Time and Illumen. Latest books, “Subject Matters”,“ Between Two Fires” “Memory Outside The Head” and “Guest Of Myself” are available through Amazon. Has won a Rhysling award for genre poetry.
