WHISTLING SHADE

Spring - Summer 2015

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Science Program on NPR

by Linda Voit

An octopus has multiple brains

including one in each tentacle

says the scientist. In fact,

should a tentacle be severed

from the body, he says,

it continues to find food

and bring it to the place

its mouth used to be.

I see its pathetic curl

toward nothing, cringe

for the tentacle    for me

twenty-two years ago

those long weeks

after their fatal accident

dialing my parents' number.