In the fresh cool water
of the swimming hole
lived a mighty marron
‘bout ten years old
He’d seen it all
this wily thing
round netted traps
bacon dangled on string
“Come on little yabby”
he’d hear them call
“Come taste this bait-
it’s nice and raw!”
But this smart crayfish
knew better than that
he’d sniff a trick
in two seconds flat
He’d lay down low
on flat dark rocks
waiting sleepily
tick-tock, tick-tock
He’d heard the tales
of cooking pots
of melted butter
and eschalots
Of bisque, étouffée
a sauce from roux
of crawfish boils
all this he knew
So careful he’d be
when things came close
to tempt him out
for lobster roast
‘til one cloudy day
at that swimming hole
when someone sat down
and dangled their toe
It looked so strange
that rounded thing
so pink and plump
no sign of a string
So up he crept
that tricksy marron
with one great claw
he pinched right down on
“Yeow!” it cried
“Something’s bitten my toe!
“There’s a creature in there!
Quick catch it!” So…
That crafty marron
he let go fast
of that plump round toe
that clever cast
Another trap!
this one was new
but there was just no way
he’d be yabby stew!
