wrestling with an octopus.

I'm wrestling with an octopus

and faring less than well,

one peek at my predicament

should be enough to tell.

It held me in a hammerlock,

then swept me off my feet,

I'm getting the impression

that I simply can't compete.

I'd hoped that I could hold my own,

but after just a while,

I ascertained I couldn't match

an octopus's style.

It flipped me by a shoulder,

and it latched onto a hip,

essentially that octopus

has got me in its grip.

I tried assorted armlocks,

but invariably missed,

and now I'm in a headlock,

and it's clinging to my wrist.

It's wound around my ankles,

and it's wrapped around my chest—

when grappling with an octopus,

I come out second best.

Jack Prelutsky

Artist: Catherine Howe