The octopossum

The octopossum lives by the sea;

no marine creature’s stranger than he!

A bushy tail and eight long arms,

with one big eye to complete his charms.

Even mighty whales avoid this beast;

they take one look and head nor’-nor’-east.

No shark swims near the octo-p.,

for fear the latter eats it for tea.

The octopossum can be gentle,

but one thing always drives him mental:

to avoid his rage and his grief,

we must save the Great Barrier Reef!