Fish Angel

Why do I write poems for other people?  Why not just endlessly wax poetic about my own internal angst, worries and wonders?  Hmmmmmm...

At the Miami Book Fair International, a little girl of about 8 or 9 approached my typewriter and asked me to write a poem about her goldfish named Bryan who was "in fish heaven." Here, I share what I wrote for that little girl and it's one of my favorite petite poems.  

I write to edify and uplift; reconcile and record. I write to reflect our humanity and remind us of our angels. 

Fish Angel

always remember your gaze
giving me one eye
then the other
my flowing, floating friend
swimming sister
or... were you my brother?
 
either way, I can say
I'm missing
kisses you'd give me
through the glass
you'd dive and dip
I'd often ponder: do fish have lips?

now I wonder 
what your after-life brings
Are you my fish angel
And how do you swim with wings?


Marie Whitman