Maryland’s Living Fossil

The First Annual Itchy Ankle Writing Contest is to be judged this evening and I have a full day’s work ahead of me. (Well, I’m actually going sailing–but I’ll get back to it after 8 hours in the sun and a few beers). Piers Morgan has bailed (he’s rumored to be negotiating his Larry King Live takeover contract) and Peggoty and Barkis have had to recuse themselves because Peggoty, a poet through and through, forgot herself and entered. Doris (NOT a judge) described Peggoty’s submission as

a beautifully crafted poem, at times reminiscent of Keats, at other points (are you you? Am I me?) Lionel Richie.

I must admit I liked her ankles cobbled in deep oyster shells (although this could have been a typo)  and her

Berries, bogs, marshes and such

A swamp with hibiscus
so close to my touch.

Anyhow, it seems I am to judge alone, unless John Roberts, Elena Kagan and all happen to be Blarney Crone fans and decide to offer their services.

I am seriously considering the early entry of Lynn Hughes

Sticky mud, horseshoe crabs, ferns and mosquitoes… twas DC in BC

but before I do anything rash, I thought I’d better check if horseshoe crabs were likely in our part of the world. What do you know, horseshoe crabs have been around in Maryland and its hinterland for 360 million years. They are Maryland’s living fossil. Their remains are often to be found at Calvert Cliffs–I have seen them there myself.

Bravo Lynn Hughes. You are climbing up the leader board. You have understood the theme of the contest, you have a rhyme that works and you are geographically, historically and zoologically correct. You are almost unrivaled.

Read more about horseshoe crabs here.