Giant Pacific Octopus

At the octopus tank at the National Zoo, especially during school field trips, it's often more fun to watch the crowd than the often hidden octopus. Unpublished.

Via National Zoo

Giant pacific octopus

She spills her heart across eight sleeves,
Not one a lie but colored anger, love, or fear,
All as she is; in truth she leaves
Us far behind, who only seem as we appear,

Well inked and armed, at hand a word
To shade as lies the truthful rush
Of our blood and memory; in a crush
Of children hoisted up, peanut-buttered

Fngertips pressed to wake the glass, they share
Her falling into what may bear
Them, disarranging
As disarranged. Bless
Rock, bless the fall of salt in salt, formless
In form: in change be always unchanging.