Simon Carnell
Armadillo
Or little armoured man – from the Spanish –
the only one you’d ever seen was head down
in a galvanised bucket in a Juchitán market –
looking less like the Aztecs’ turtle-rabbit than
a giant sea louse fished up from the depths –
the deadest saddest thing. But apparently good
in stews. It’s hopping backwards with balled-
up brush in order to line its burrow and nest,
all over the USA’s hived-off southern states.
A Mexican mask – you bought one – uses its
banded armour – the tail a nose – just maybe
some Ur-spirit of place: indomitable, solitary,
sentient, ingenious – armiger against an armada.
Page(s) 96
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