A Crabby Show

Making an Appearance

I stroll a patch of Florida's Treasure Coast when a carefree, creeping crustacean shows up.

If we watch closely, a small creature might teach a human a few lessons.

Out of nowhere, the sand crab almost underfoot.

As the surf nears and overwhelms him, the crab does not scurry or scamper away.

 He steadfastly holds his ground, but then surf and suds suddenly sweep him away.  

Just as suddenly the next wave's surge surprisingly returns him unscathed to my footprint.




Upright and ready, he returns his staring stance,
facing me as if nothing has happened...as if life had washed over him with hardly a

~

To most casual observers, this seemingly insignificant seaside encounter might barely appear worthy of much less than an entire blog entry.  But significance in life isn't always determined by magnitude. What matters most to me is momentary and resonating meaning. And for some reason this crab concurrence moved me to take photos, to write and to explore its meaning.  Nature speaks so I want to listen and learn.  So I pondered this crab's showing up and finally realized his message.

Hello, Crusty, never-seen you before; 

Strolling about on this sunbaked sandy shore.

Eyeing my presence, you're crossing my walk

Almost stepped on you, startled my talk.

Did you see me approach; come out to say hello?

Or merely patrolling your grainy granules to show?

Suddenly taken, shaken by sudden surf suds

Under-towed by foamy, frothing, flowing floods

Where'd you go?...you disappeared...not here any more!

Gone beach guardian, no longer a chore?

My foot imprints await the returning splosh

Of its lone sentinel, sun-glistening, back-washed.   

Resuming your staring stance under toe

You return starry-eyed, no startled crawler woe?

Steadfast in the face of sweeping travail 

You stay astride your domain with barely a flail.

Swept out to sea; came back to be
You turned right side up by the sea and me.