Female Seahorses

Male sea horses carry the eggs

Maybe over 2,000 of them

In a pouch

And he stays put

Anchored to the bottom of the ocean

While his mate runs around all over the place

Returning for a few minutes every day

Probably with instructions and

Then depositing more eggs as soon as the last load of babies is off into the world

At least that’s how it usually is

I wonder what happens if the female wants to stay home with the eggs

Is that OK with the neighbors

If her in laws were to stop over

Together

And recognize him

Or her

Would they help her come up with a workable pouch of her own

Or would they make their disapproval clear

With tail gestures and snide remarks

Muttering under their breath the whole time about how

Male sea horses are supposed to carry the eggs