They came mostly from the rift lakes:
Malawi, Tanganyika, Victoria: Angels,
Compressiceps, Peacocks, Frontosa, Oscars.
In the afternoons, after Drama classes,
we’d get high and sit in the basement
watching them, feeding them, breeding.
O, the drama! Each fish establishing
its territory, invisible borders shifting;
colours flaring or dimming, depending.
They were so beautiful. And every day
after Drama class we’d get high
and sit in the basement watching them.
Encased by three walls of aquaria,
each requiring constant cleaning, monitoring,
exchanging water. Separating fish.
Each time I left the basement –
(and emerged sleepily into the light)
I’d wonder where the time went.
But it was time well spent,
that time with friends, getting high
on beauty, all that watching, all that drama.
Malawi, Tanganyika, Victoria: Angels,
Compressiceps, Peacocks, Frontosa, Oscars.
we’d get high and sit in the basement
watching them, feeding them, breeding.
its territory, invisible borders shifting;
colours flaring or dimming, depending.
after Drama class we’d get high
and sit in the basement watching them.
each requiring constant cleaning, monitoring,
exchanging water. Separating fish.
(and emerged sleepily into the light)
I’d wonder where the time went.
that time with friends, getting high
on beauty, all that watching, all that drama.
No comments:
Post a Comment