Siluroid

I am the prize catch
I live in an artificial lake
	fed by a nappe phréatique
I was put there to keep 
	lesser fish: carp
      from taking up too much space 
I live to be caught
           and caught again
     and be let loose as rain
I protest only to attract attention
Twenty minutes to make things look good
     for the fresh-water sportsman

I know now well how to play the game

My almost fanless tail
A slithering mermaid mass from my puffed-up head
   where overcoat-button eyes
		sunk on either side 
     of my gaping gasping mouth
  shell-fish fins for hands
Seven beige whiskers under my gawking chin
              make me the butt
     of dare-devil diving click-clucking coots
Even the slender-necked darting grebe ignores me
I stay low when the wild geese gather
	with their young :
   duckling swan barnacle 	 
I make no sound to call my own
Only the crunch of carp 
         between two rows of filed-down molars

It is not my duty to swagger around
     even under my metallic raincoat camouflage 
I hide where the yarrow stalks grow thick and deep
     or where the weeping willows dip their loaded plaits


Every Sunday I await the sporting hameçon
The tear makes the wear more ludique
Only the side of my underlip looks like a harelip

It doesn’t much matter
     for the fun-loving trotters and rovers
  like to marvel with pride at my side
         in the fishing-club picture of the week

Meantime I gorge myself with carp
That’s why I hardly ever wish to carp   


© T. Wignesan – Paris - 2012 	 

Note : The Siluroid , one of the largest fresh-water fishes, sometimes a metre and a half in length.

devotionimagism

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