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Ivy Hudson

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Song of the Fish

Slishy sloshy
glug glug
round and round I swim,
round the corner
by the wall
back to the bridge again.

Slishy sloshy
glug glug
round and round I swim
goldfish from the fair
throw a ball,
see what you can win.

Won by a leggy girl
who’s not yet fully grown,
all can see my scales
some diseased
but still I swim
my movements never fail.

Slishy sloshy
there’s no rest
round and round this bowl
I can see the world’s out there
but can’t join in,
or change this role -

people living
working, moving
with their hidden lives,
while here I’m stuck
all can see my searching
and see how I survive.

Slishy sloshy
glug glug
round and round I swim
why should life be a circle
with a barrier around
impossible to climb?

So the leggy woman
nascent, not yet fully grown
twisting, turning evermore
the shape she has become
feels exposed. unreal
watched the fish explore.

 

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