A trawler hits a reef, gives back the fish;

the salts swim to the safety of a beach,

and lunch on coconuts, bananas, figs.

When night drops in for supper they light fires,

cook a hog who’d ran into a hole they’d dug --

                       and out of luck.

They sleep and dream of cucumbers, grapes,

and other crap they’ll have to go without.

Then dawn shows up and with her: a rescue ship;

they hide like mice behind a bunch of palms;

the mermaids in the pool nearby are ripe --

                       and challenging.