The Zaratan
Richard Stevenson
The Zaratan’s
giant turtle’s shell houses
trees and shrubs,
looks like an island,
a good place to dock, but no –
The island that was
an upside down monster turtle
nibbled at birds,
the landed gentry, anyone
or anything that landed there.
That why first nations
tribes all call the continent
Turtle Island?
Just so they can invert it,
swallow all the landlubbers?
I like that notion –
It offers a new view of
North America –
an island that can capsize
just like a brigantine can.
