ODYSSEUS AS AN ABALONE

I was happy, hardened, minding
my algae on the seabed when
you yanked me up, pried open
my shell, cut me out, and found me
too hard and crunchy. So now
you’re smashing me. Yes, after
you’re done with the rock, I’ll be
mushroom-soft and lobster-chewy.
Butter, sear, and lemon me. I’ll best
any bovine’s tongue or boar’s belly.
Chew me, swallow me. The sooner
you do, the sooner your inner tube
will spurt me back to my algae
so I can rise, do the same to you.