Red crabs,
orange crabs, green crabs blue,
Freshwater, marine and soft-shelled too.
Freshwater, marine and soft-shelled too.
Tiny ones
that burrow in the sandy beach
scurrying
like spiders always out of reach.
The best about
crabs is when they’re in the pot.
Stewed in thick coco
milk is the tastiest shot
Curry or steamed
their orange shells showing
A feast with a
hammer that does the cracking.
The worst about crabs
is a dozen in a basket
each one trying to
reach the top of the bucket
One lucky fella
almost reaching the top
a yank at his
breeches and he falls with a flop.
Filipinos transplanted
in some off-shore job
Like skittering
crabs grappling in a tub
One does a little
better than all the rest
The others pull
him down and end his quest.
Crabs and some Filipinos they may seem alike
Pulling or pushing
each other across the dike
The presence of
envy so strong in the mind
for this reason
that peace they hardly find.
