Today’s poem is part of a special launch schedule during National Poetry Month from April 1—30, 2024. I’ll be posting a new poem daily for 30 days, which will be sent out to all subscribers as a summary on April 30 and otherwise can be viewed for free in the archives here. Thank you for being here!
“THE FISH”
Have you ever watched a fish gasp for its last breath? I watched it under fluorescent lights, With the fish’s two of four adult children, And six fish grandkids who'd never seen death, Assured by the doctor that the fish couldn’t feel anything, That each violent exhale and eye roll was just the system shutting down. Maybe the fish couldn’t, maybe the fish was already in heaven And its body was just hanging out in hell for 8 minutes and 23 seconds. After the last gasp, this fish was back in the land of the living, Dead in an ocean of grief, every pomegranate seed tossed. I will never give away the Chanel No. 5 that fish gave me.
P.S.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget this day. This is the first time I’ve written about it.