A Poem by / Cerdd gan Simon Maddrell

Translated by / Cyfieithwyd gan Siân Melangell Dafydd

Blue-ringed octopus

Anthropomorphism: the inability of humans to judge the behaviour of another species outside of their norms or beyond their intelligence. When provoked, this octopus turns bright yellow with glowing blue rings. Humans find this attractive –– they are only human after all — so much so in fact they harvest take them from the wild non-protected areas. Apparently they don’t travel well, and often escape tanks. Experts don’t recommended as pets because of their bite. A blue-ringed octopus has three times the neural wiring capacity of humans — octopus arms also interact with their environment with minimal input from their brain. They are seemingly mild-mannered, introverted animals except, presumably, when they hunt, paralyse, crunch and eat their prey. However, they are more sociable on MDMA. What is written focuses chiefly on the octopus venom –– its bite is enough to kill twenty-six people within minutes. Reportedly there have only ever been sixteen people dead. Humans say they are the most poisonous creatures on earth.

Octopws glasgylchol

Simon Maddrell appears in Acumen, AMBIT, Magma, The Moth, Poetry Wales, Stand,
Under the Radar. Pamphlets include: 2020: Throatbone, UnCollected Press; Queerfella, Joint-winner, The Rialto Open Pamphlet Competition. Also the PBS Selections: Isle of Sin, Polari Press, 2023; The Whole Island, Valley Press, 2023; a finger in derek jarman’s mouth, Polari Press, 2024.