A Fish's Tale
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Mitch Featherston
a
skewered bit of fish
spoke
to me
of
its long adventure
in
silent reverie
watching
the light
careen
through bubbles
long
left
by
plankton’s organizational crimes
as
it filtered down
(in
otherness)
it
danced upon
the
upward draft
of
these air bubbles
feeling
their circumference
bursting
upon gill and scale
a
rhythmic tambourine
tumbling
broadside
and
as it ventured its tale
of
sun’s dance
i
felt my heart
squeeze
a bit
a
nuanced caress
life
against life
as
its story now became mine.
copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2013
posted for the Poetry Pantry 135
Oh beautiful about a fish's tale indeed Audrey. Made me think of the fish's we had recently.
ReplyDeleteI think about that otherness, the way a chicken or a fish's life 'becomes mine' when I eat meat...which is why I don't like to eat much meat. Beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteWonderful story within a story as your narrator prepares to eat. And is the narrator human? I feel a sense of infinity here or at least a piece of the cycle of give and take on this planet. Gently done!
ReplyDeleteThought-provoking writing, Audrey. I like the way you relate to the fish and also think about life against life and how its story becomes yours. We are definitely all related in some way!
ReplyDeleteThe gratitude makes the meal sublime.
ReplyDeleteintriguing piece...leaves a lot of food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think of my grandson who "doesnt eat anything with a face". It makes one think, for certain. Life being as precious to the fish as to us.
ReplyDeleteI think this is brilliant. The circle of life, well told.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think of the early Native Americans who called to their prey, then thanked them for giving their life, that the people might live. It definitely has a mystical feel about it,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/in-my-own-space/
Great wording and I really love 'organizational crimes' - priceless.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful I am a vegetarian.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful take on this, Audrey!
Elizabeth made mention of the American Indians process above, while I was thinking of how they did the same in the movie Avatar. Perhaps being raised at times on my Grandparents farm assisted me in understanding everything has its purpose. Great poem!
ReplyDeletevery nice audrey...your consciousness of the fishes tale...and relating to it as well...we are all linked and in this together you know...
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that the fish's tale becomes a part of you! Well told tale!
ReplyDeletefabulous ending, Audrey! great write!
ReplyDelete♥
Amazing. This grabbed my attention straight away . Love "plankton's organizational crimes". Humour in the midst of melancholy. Beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful write, I felt as if I was swimming with the fish in the great oceans, seeing and feeling everything the fish could:-))
ReplyDeleteYes we must respect what we eat by honouring it with fine careful cooking which is a kind of a ritual offering.
ReplyDeleteamazing, what a little bit of fish can prompt! seems to me that prayer before meal ought to give thanks to the cycle of life providing nourishment, wellness, health. God's right there, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteYou delved deep into the relationship we should have with nature. Great words.
ReplyDeletebecause fish used to be so plentiful, people tend to think of it primarily as food. your poem is an interesting angle on this life cycle. :)
ReplyDeleteWe are all joined, it seems.
ReplyDeletePlankton's organizational crime -- LOVE that!!
Now I can put my scuba-diving yen to rest -- who needs to travel when you can dive into Audrey's poems where the ocean experience is yours. I felt the bubbles on my bare skin, and heard them too. Nice job!
oxox
Wow! Really excellent work!
ReplyDeleteAnd the story continues on an alimentary track...
ReplyDeleteOthers have already mentioned the quite excellent phrasing you put together, and, I join their praise.
Nice poem, love the ending.
ReplyDeleteThought-provoking and beautiful writing indeed!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fanciful tale but not far from the truth as was related to you...
ReplyDelete