Dark Red

This morning I opened my eyes to murderous sunset and watched my family pass through a column of fire that swallowed them, poisoned them, and sent them drifting up toward the heavens like injured kites. I did not understand. They say something has come loose something sealed leaked or something blocked exploded and something terrible spilt in fumes One by one they are all leaving. The sea is bleeding ugly brown an unworthy color thick with no feeling I wonder if up in the heavens the unleashed kites have been torn apart and dissected or if those watery clouds have concealed them. My scales are shaking; my eyes are blurred the nightmare has been choking me in such times as I drift, I glance at the towering red, trying to remember those it had burned and blinded But when I look back ahead all I see is darkness. ___ FYI: This poem was written from the perspective of a fish living in the gulf waters.