When the crocodile wolfs down

his beans on toast

without a nod to the host,

or a simple ‘hello’ –

you might well mistake hunger

for ignorance.

Not unlike a dog

but larger,

when the crocodile bites off

more than he can chew –

you might excuse

the eructation and flatulence

for poor etiquette.

Accepting that crocodilians

are not best famed

for their agreeable table manners.

But, when the crocodile bad-mouths

you after dinner –

we might well conjecture,

such genteel flattery

is more a matter of pot calling

kettle, than any lasting bonhomie,

or indeed, any remittance of civility.

Mark A. Murphy has had work published in 18 countries. He is a 3 time Pushcart Nominee, and has published eight books of poetry to date.. German publisher ‘Moloko Print’ published his latest collection, ‘The Ruin of Eleanor Marx’ in the summer of 2022.