I grew up in Stephenville, and every spring when the lobster season opened, my father would buy a bunch of lobster and cook it outside the house while we waited in anticipation for the tasty feast! One year, however, things didn't quite work out for Dad's boil up. This is a true story of what happened.


They really do exist you know,
I’ve seen them once before.
Lobsters flying through the air,
Now let me tell you more.

You see, my precious father,
In the springtime every year,
Brought fresh lobster home to cook,
For the family he held dear.

He’d light a fire in the pit outside,
And boil the lobster there.
Ah, it was the grandest feast,
You’d find most anywhere.

One time a friend brought Dad a gift,
A stainless steel milk can,
It even had an airtight lid,
And Dad came up with a plan.

He packed the lobsters in the can,
And placed the lid on tight.
If you’ve guessed the milk can blew,
You’re absolutely right.

Brilliant orange lobster shells,
Flying through the air,
Thank goodness when the pressure blew,
Dad wasn’t standing there.

There wasn’t a trace of lobster left,
Just empty broken shells,
And a story about poor Dad’s mistake,
That his family loved to tell.

- Annabel Sheila
  Submitted By: Nancy Crossman