by Marshall Begel

“Tiny crustaceans the size of sand grains sneeze up packets of glowing mucus to impress potential partners.”
—The New York Times

Glimmering, shimmering
Panama’s ostracods
Start mating season with
Luminous snot.

Sparking delight in their
Microanatomy,
Female sea fireflies
Find this quite hot.

Sadly that sentiment
Translates abysmally
When homo sapiens
Likewise equip—

Women will question my
Marriageability,
During my seasonal
Postnasal drip.