Stephen Katona - A Mother's Devotion

This is a story of true devotion,
Deep in the Pacific Ocean.
In Monterey Bay,
Far below seals at play,
There waits a true matriarch,
One mile down, where its always dark.
In water only 3 degrees,
Where you or I would freeze,
Olga the octopus cares for her brood,
Without eating any food.
She makes no attempt to grab,
Tasty looking shrimp and crab.
You have to really respect,
How determined she is to protect,
The one hundred and sixty eggs,
Lying under her eight legs.

At last, after four and a half years,
Out hatch her little dears.
Olga gave each beating heart,
The best possible start.
See how large they've managed to grow,
In all those years safe from foe,
Ready to find their own way,
And perhaps come back one day.

Stephen Katona

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-mother-s-devotion-2/