Homo delphinus
Build a temple to my fame
the god Apollo is my name
Fill your card shops with my face
let me be your only grace
Watch me bow-ride with your ships
star wide-eyed and smack your lips
Count the money that you’ll make
but beware, there’s much at stake
Make a net to catch some fish
cast it blind and make a wish
Throw the drift net from your bows
I swim along and then I drown
Catching all that swims at sea
but be surprised that I’m not free
Herd my friends into the bay
I will follow every day
Cold young heroes laugh and look
then slash my skin with tender hooks
Infect me, wait for me to die
you’ll never see or hear me cry
Fishermen say I steal their prey
but I can feed no other way
So cut my flukes off with a knife
and then return back to your life
Hunt me down, yes, have your thrill
let eastern restaurants take their fill
Racer boys in big, fast boats
how you look so small afloat
You love speed and I love pace
how can you shoot into my face?
Lock me in a swimming pool
feed me fish and watch me fool
Hear my sonar bounce around
seeing things with waves of sound
Catch a fish without a hook
track them down without a book
Scientists don’t understand
my way of life away from land
A theory here, a worry there
you’ve seen my smile, I do not care
I’m never found with cancer growths
but never mind, you’ve made an oath
To use the world as you see fit
turn into cash the most of it
Release your poisons to the world
they’ll disappear in ocean’s swirl
But take a close look at my skin
it’s sore and red and blistering
See me when you go to sleep
but never let me make you weep
Think of me amid the blue
you only wish it could be you
Build a temple to my fame
come and swim, for life’s a game
man and dolphin are the same
the god Apollo is my name.