The Fish

I couldn’t help but stare at him, Even though I knew all he did was swim. In his murky, powdered water, It makes me wonder if he ever feels like a martyr. Or maybe he feels conned, Not knowing that his life is confined to this pond. Or maybe I don’t understand. Perhaps he had this all planned. Life in that water might be more peaceful Than walking on an Earth filled with humanities evils. I leaned in to ask him if he loves his life, And when he replied, he didn’t have to think twice. He told me “Of course I do, what’s not to love? It’s better than dealing with all the human’s problems up above.” I told him he was right, and that I’m extremely Jealous Because with his life, he feels very zealous. I wondered how long it would take For me to grow scales and gills and start swimming in a pond or lake. Then the Fish laughed, lifting up his clammy fins Saying with an enormous grin, “Oh you don’t want to be a fish! Everyday my friends leave me, only to be a well prepared dish! Listen, you can be anything you ever wanted, While I spend 24 hours a day being taunted. You humans get to see the green grass, the blue sky, and the magnificent buildings, While I swim in this dirty, muddy water that’s extremely chilling! Being a fish is great because there aren’t any big problems But at least you have the potential to solve them. My life is great, and maybe a little weird, But I’ll never know what it’s like to have a full grown beard. So enjoy yourself. This is my life, and that is yours, So stop showing this fish any kind of remorse.” So maybe this little, blue creature was right, What he was saying was never in my sight. But there’s something I’ll always ponder, And it’s what it would be like to be a fish, in that murky, shallow water.