Cloak and Dagger

The eel and the flounder were the closest of friends
on the artificial reef made of salvage and stone.
They moved between the sandy spot the flounder liked best
and a telephone booth where the eel could rest
but they never left each other alone.

One day in the sand when the flounder looked up
she saw nothing but sea and had panicked in fear --
the eel had been taken -- or so she'd confirm
as a soda can drifted to rest on the berm
for she knew it meant people were near.

She searched for her friend as a fisher above
gave a squeal when the eel hit the deck of his boat.
He spun for his gun and shot into the net --
as the magazine emptied, he filled with regret
wondering now how the vessel would float.

The ocean rushed up through a hole in the hull.
With the fisher deterred, the eel slithered away.
The man grabbed his gear and repaired the pontoon.
His employment secure, he then grabbed his harpoon,
resolute that he'd make the eel pay.

The flounder was thrilled when the eel returned home
but she saw the man nearing and moved to defend --
she shouted, "Get down!", brought the eel to the ground,
and turned gray like the sand so they couldn't be found
and they vanished, the closest of friends.