Beach Magician
Beach Magician
With nothing
up his sleeve
but a brainless foot,
this mundane clam
does the ultimate trick:
tipping his jelly bean shell on end,
he disappears
into the sand.
We saw these little clams, called coquina, on the beach in Marco Island, Florida over the holiday. Their disappearing trick looked both magical and ridiculous. See?
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No brain necessary for that trick! And yet it is clever all the same. Cute poem, Liz! I like the title.
I still don’t quite get how they do it with one foot. I’m sure I couldn’t do it and I have a brain and two feet.
The phrase “brainless foot” hit a nerve — I like it.
Thanks, Anna. My first draft simply said “nothing up his sleeve,” then it occurred to me that wasn’t quite true.
“Beach Magician” puts me in mind of Valerie Worth – potent comment on a small wonder of the world & said in a new way. The video is priceless, too. I know that beach & am glad you found it, Liz, because it prompted your word magic.
I feel very honored to have put you in mind of Valerie Worth. Did you see that Renee La Tulippe is celebrating her at No Water River?
Thanks, yes! I luxuriated in Lee Bennett Hopkins’ memories & the entire party there.
Fascinating creatures, Liz! Thank you for introducing them to me first in your poem and then with the video. I hope to see the coquina clam perform his magic trick in person one day. =)
Fascinating and silly. I couldn’t stop giggling at them. I hope you get to see them too.
That’s quite a trick! Never knew this about coquina clams. Cute poem too, and fun video. 🙂
Lovely, and I was another who thought of the wonderful Valerie Worth — the shape that subtly mimics the action, the pacing, the magic. Thanks for taking us to the beach, too!
Oh good, I was hoping you would feel you’d had a quick trip to the beach!
My grandparents lived on Florida’s Panhandle, and one of my favorite things to do at the beach was to collect empty coquina shells! I especially love the ones that are still hinged and have a collage piece of art I created in which the coquina shells are butterflies. Your poem brings that all back! Thank you. xo
This is very, very cute. It reminds me I need some time near the ocean. Thanks for sharing it.
Very nice. I love the “jelly bean shell.” The video was great – it felt so familiar – I think I must have seen coquinas in my childhood.
Isn’t that amazing… AND truly giggle-worthy, as you say! Having a “jellybean” shell suits this clam perfectly.
My connection is too slow to see the vid today, but I’ll try again later.
We don’t get those up north here on the beaches of Maine…all we usually see are the little round holes in the sand as evidence that a big gray clam is down there. No jellybeans for us! (I had to go look them up)
A very short and sweet poem! Thanks for sharing it.
I love the opening lines! “Brainless foot” is so perfectly descriptive!
Wow! That’s a sight I’d like to see in person! Thanks for showing it to me in your poem (and the video)!
How lovely indeed! 🙂