Why don’t you leave me alone!

I’m just a crevice-dweller

Solitudinarian.

 

I can escape you eight ways

Rippling body colors

Prestidigitarian.

 

Always solving food problems

Drilling shells, unscrewing caps

Valedictorian.

 

No bones, no shell, fearing men,

We’re caught for dinner, used as chum

Valetudinarian.

 

Tolerate me. Use your brain–

Eighty-six billion neurons–

Latitudinarian.

 

Squishy, superflexible

or clingy, suction-cuppy,

I’ll swim, be unflappable

Breathe in, Whoosh! Breathe out, Bubbly…