Swim, Steel Fish

Swim, Steel Fish

For Joe Wiseman, a Cousin

Deep the steel fish swims

Sometimes in waters hostile

Where other steel fish also swim…

Deep, surface, afloat.

Any wrong move,

The Deep herself unmerciful…

At bottom too long,

Or rising too fast,

Or swimming not silent enough—

Fish gone.

Close quarters,

Some go mad—it’s too close,

Too tight;

To others,

A steel second skin

That bites.

Nothing prepares for that first dive…

The pops, creaking sighs

As the Deep presses into

Claim her fish…

And will continue to squeeze

And rock her baby

As Deep and exploding other fish

Meet…

Swim, steel fish,

Swim silently, deeply and fast…

May you not be hooked

Behind that hostile line

For no one will find you there.

© Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 2000.

All rights reserved.