C.L. Hearnden

Semelparous 

After laying eggs, Female octopuses guard them for up to a year; During this time, they don't eat. By the time their young arrive, they are almost dead. 

I mother like an octopus. Engulfing my arms around 

everyone in reach. Eight arms lined with limpet 

strength that I use to hold onto you with brutal love. 

I mother like an octopus. 

I will hold onto you until you hatch from your shell 

of darkness, of sadness, of fearfulness, shell of 

I can’t do this-ness. 

I will stay here, a red knot on a rock cradling you 

and your troubles. Not leaving, 

not sleeping, slowly starving 

in this green velvet kelp 

hiding behind my limpet strength arms. 

Look 

how many I have. Look how many people I can hold, look how long I can carry

you, slowly starving. 

I mother like an octopus 

cradling the yolk of you, from the hardness of life 

in my limpet strength arms, I am camouflaged. A red knot on a rock 

slowly starving. So soon you’ll swim 

away. And if you look back you will see my eight arms of limpet strength

and not a red knot on a rock 

starving.