Turritopsis dohrnii

w/o June 17th 2024

this one’s more open-ended; I just want you to think and write about jellyfish, because i love them and i’m feeling like hearing about what they mean to you! here’s a playlist that makes me happy and might inspire you.

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CW: discussion of death

Have you heard of the immortal jellyfish?


I say immortal
but they do die,
and they do decay;
just - not like we do.


Turritopsis dohrnii have a red core
and beautiful stringy tentacles
and they don't die.

they don't die
but only if they are starved
or cold
or ill;

they become polyps again,
tiny wide-eyed polyps
except they don't have eyes
or a brain
or a heart.



But they remember.



Even without a brain, they remember
so they can never make the same mistake again.


Do they remember the cold?
Do they remember the hunger?
Do they remember the illness?



I remember the cold
and the hunger
and the illness
but I always make the same mistakes
and I can die.
I will die.
I must die.





so I ask again:


Have you heard of the immortal jellyfish?


and you'll reply: Yes, I have
and we'll get back to the ticking clock.