He always gave the death grip
When the family came together
Unprompted from his arm would slip
his handshake like a tether.

You’d innocently place your hand
In vice grips he’d deploy
But quickly you would understand
Your hand was like a toy

Your whole arm moved up and down,
This mad-man grip was crazy.
I decided I could take his crown
If I could just be lazy.

The next time that we met again
I had my silent wish,
Extended out my hand and then
I gave him the limp fish.

My shake was absolutely dead
No muscles tensed at all
The limp fish that his hand was fed
‘caused gladiator’s fall.