(After an Etching by Fernando Bertelli (c. 1525–?)
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
In a small clean pond beneath a run
A great flotilla two oars each
That rows the galleys of Don Juan
Skaters, swimmers, water striders
Known to some as Jesus bugs
Because the creatures walk on water
In spring the instars stay embayed,
A nursery, but then they spread
Into the deeps where herons wade
They row with middle legs, aft steer,
Front legs grasp what food falls near
And with the claws on these they spear
Spiders drop into the eddy,
From these and insects, standing ready,
Make a meal on salt and gravy
The ripples of the falling prey
Alert the striders as they spring
So they can feast on blood today
Look below to see the fleet
As if Lepanto were not far
And Ali Pasha gone to war
As if the striders had divided
Into kingdoms to contest
Which fleet of striders fights the best