Invasive Poetry
San Francisco, CA
2016, Senior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Veni Vidi Vici
I’m the lion fish
Originally from the
Indo-Pacific
I expand my kingdom
Escape from Floridian
Aquariums
I came, I saw, I conquered.
First the Western Atlantic, then the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South America
Now Bermuda ecosystem is mine.
Ambush
Pterois volitans: Lion invader
King of the coral reefs
I prepare havoc
Prepare the ambush
Slow moving, conspicuous
My next meal will be pure deliciousness
Outstretched are my fins
Fan-like and pectoral
Leave my prey cornered
I swallow you whole.
Appetite
My appetite does not lack
Eating over 70 species in fact
I can eat up to 30 times my own volume
I’ve even been found to hold 30 fish in me.
Why be a Fish When You Can be a King?
What I gotta do to get it through to you I’m King?
Cryptic coloration it’s my natural bling
It discourages my foes
Really everything goes.
The whole Ocean–it’s mine
I’m an invader on the upswing
So why be a fish when you can be a king?
Puncture, Pain, Paralysis
I am invasive
Got some tricks up my sleeve
I’ve got 13 venomous dorsal spines
Unlucky you will be.
First the puncture; I hit an artery, then a vein
Next the pain, no gain I do assure
Then comes paralysis, I suggest a dialysis
Take your last breath, because next can come death.
Damage
Crowding out the natives
They cannot compete with me
Grouper and Snapper have nothing left
How sad it must be.
I prey on native fish
So tasty though, they provide a great dish.
My hunger has effects on reef habitat and health
But I’m a King, I deserve this wealth!
With my competition killed
Commerce and recreation I’ve distilled
And now they’ve placed a bounty on my head
Now I’m next onto the grill.
Reflection
Reflection
I wrote a series of Haiku-like poems describing the invasive and harmful lifestyle of the Lionfish. “Veni Vidi Vici” is a poem giving some context and background on the Lionfish and describing the conquest of the Lionfish and how it has been extremely successful as an invasive species. “Ambush” and “Appetite” are poems demonstrating how the Lionfish hunts, and how successful it is due to its hunting technique. “Why be a Fish When You Can be a King” is about how dominant the Lionfish is in its new habitat. Lionfish are extremely successful and have rapidly expanded the boundaries of their habitat (see images below to see Lionfish in year 2000 vs. 2013). “Puncture, Pain, Paralysis” and “Damage” is about the danger of the Lionfish and some of its ecological impacts. Lionfish, by being so successful, are making it extremely difficult for other fish to compete, and because of this, these species are dying off. This creates both ecological, commercial, and recreational issues. Lionfish eat native fish, which can reduce native populations and have negative effects on the overall reef habitat and health. This is because they can eliminate species that serve important ecological roles such as fish that keep algae in check on the reefs.