If you still have charm
you have been underutilized;
but tell us, which do you love more,
your dagger or the moon?

Now withdraw the question and the dagger both
from the eye of the beholder
and return to the symposium
being held on a rock

somewhere in the sea. Do not allow
the dark impending shapes
to obscure the presentations completely,
and take in the wisdom of the supervising mermaid:

It is only the false penguin that will seek
to count your fish rather than eat them.