by Iris Herriot

“Michigan man plans to ship invasive lamprey to England for king’s coronation”
—Detroit Free Press

King Henry I is traditionally said to have “died from eating a surfeit of lampreys.”
—eels.historiacartarum.org

Don’t sham-praise
The Lampreys,
Most toothy of species;
Top clan prays
For Lampreys:
No fakes or pastiches.

Yank champ, raise
Some Lampreys—
They’re not like taxation:
Let Sam praise
With Lampreys
The King’s coronation!