Last updated on May 24, 2020
Invertebrates feeding swimming
In fresh water breathing, skimming
Call them fairy shrimp to keep tabs
Translucent relatives of crabs
And small, relatives of lobsters
Valuable critters to foster
Algae and plankton are their food
These Crustaceans have quite a brood
Appendages eleven pairs
Adults don’t live to see their heirs
They don’t survive even a year
But hardy eggs survive no fear
no fish are present to respond
to eat all the small critters spawned
an obligate species in pools
temporary wetland jewels
called vernal pools in the landscape
water bodies of any shape
generally smaller than a pond
no inflow of a stream beyond
please recognize this habitat
be a steward, don’t fall flat
protect this rare water body
spread the word to everybody