Baby Fish

In my son’s house there’s a fish tank
Where there currently reside
Five fishes swimming happily.
(A sixth one, sadly, died.)

Today I noticed something new,
A little mesh-type cage
Suspended in the tank for reasons
I could not quite gauge.

Until I looked more carefully 
And, much to my surprise,
Two baby fish were hiding;
As a tactic, very wise.

I learned their one-time siblings
Hadn’t lasted very long,
Being gobbled by the grown-ups
Which, of course, seems very wrong.

But we can’t judge their behavior
Or compare it to our own,
For we humans pamper offspring - 
Well, at least ‘til they are grown!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 10/24/2023 4:50:00 PM
I’ve been a ‘fishy’ person for fifty five years, Ilene. So I knew what the mesh cage was. The thing about the fish that give birth to free swimming young is that they’ll give birth at one end, then turn about and eat their young. Hence a thirty to fifty brood. Thank heaven for evolution… and top notch poetry ;-)
Login to Reply
Date: 10/23/2023 3:06:00 PM
It is hard for me to let go and not pamper. Ironically my daughter who is living with friends after graduating from college last spring, called today from her new career in Boston. "Oh, mom..I need new tires on my car and groceries are so expensive, why is every thing so expensive?" I want to send her money, but "she is grown and now on her own" Hold tight Marikate, hold tight. Super poem, I needed to read today!
Login to Reply
Date: 10/20/2023 8:55:00 PM
Another great poem. Thanks for the fish tale.
Login to Reply
Date: 10/20/2023 1:09:00 PM
oh how cute is that Ilene and what a wise tactic to give the little ones a chance to thrive:-) hugs Jan xx
Login to Reply
Date: 10/20/2023 12:14:00 PM
- A cruel thought indeed, Ilene - we humans pamper our offspring ... as long as we are able to ... - Many thanks for your visit and good wishes on my poems :) - hugs
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter