The Octopus Tango
Moe's poem performed by Namakula Nasejje Musoke. Listen here ...
Down in the depths on the ocean floor
lies an old sea cave with a wooden door.
This cold and cavernous, watery hall
is home to The Octopus Tango Ball.
Hidden away in this abysmal deep,
mollusks master their “Barada Sweep”!
In the dim, dank hall, they take their places,
tentacles tangle in tango embraces.
A dim chandelier from a sunken ship,
sways in the waves as the cave walls drip.
The maestro signals: the dance must begin!
The eight-legged partners start to spin.
A scarlet octopus stamps her heels.
Her blue-ringed partner slithers and kneels.
She dangles a ruby rose in her beak,
brushes its thorn against his cheek.
Their colors change as they swirl and slink.
Not spilling so much as a drop of ink.
Those boneless bodies never go slack
As they do the “Ocho”, forward and back.
Round suckers pucker with every move
As the musicians play a Tango groove.
In murky waters, the dance marches on
At the Octopus Tango Marathon.
lies an old sea cave with a wooden door.
This cold and cavernous, watery hall
is home to The Octopus Tango Ball.
Hidden away in this abysmal deep,
mollusks master their “Barada Sweep”!
In the dim, dank hall, they take their places,
tentacles tangle in tango embraces.
A dim chandelier from a sunken ship,
sways in the waves as the cave walls drip.
The maestro signals: the dance must begin!
The eight-legged partners start to spin.
A scarlet octopus stamps her heels.
Her blue-ringed partner slithers and kneels.
She dangles a ruby rose in her beak,
brushes its thorn against his cheek.
Their colors change as they swirl and slink.
Not spilling so much as a drop of ink.
Those boneless bodies never go slack
As they do the “Ocho”, forward and back.
Round suckers pucker with every move
As the musicians play a Tango groove.
In murky waters, the dance marches on
At the Octopus Tango Marathon.
This poem is copyright (©) Moe Phillips 2024
About the Writer
Moe Phillips
Moe is a poet, writer and filmmaker. Recipient of a Gold Clio in 2019, for her work with Disney, she has been published in over twenty anthologies for children and adults. She is a regular contributor to Bella Grace Magazine. Moe has created short films for award winning poets - Naomi Shihab Nye, Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard. Her latest creation is “The Feisty Beast” an audio content series she pens and produces.
