11 - Animal

For today’s prompt, write an animal poem. A poem that is either about an animal, involves an animal, or is from an animal’s perspective. Your choice.

My fish, Sheryl, is taking a long time to die.
She has been growing more pale
and has positioned herself under the pond waterfall
where she just stays.
Her tumor hasn't grown
but my friend said he noticed
"a far away look in her eyes."

I've noticed that too.

Is that suffering?
Is this long drift into death suffering?
Is it more merciful to have him
cut her head off as he said was best

or, under the bubbles there,
in the morning or day or night
is there something of this
tiny living
that should be fought for
for as long as it can be fought for

a small current under the body
that is good
that is hers
that is life.

8 Submerged

Submerged

This dream interests me.

I am skiing, a bit carefully
turning a lot to not wipe out

but the snow quality changes
to slush, slows

so I can set a more direct line
and I do

head straight
down, with confident, cut curves

I know my people
are watching, noticing my new confidence

but the quality of the slush changes
is melting and I am skiing

into water and, as would happen,
as it turns to water I sink

fast
and my boots an my clothes and my skis

pull me down fast and I know
I must

get rid of all that is dragging me down
quickly and I do

I take off my boots and the skis sink
with them and I know

that is not all I must hold on
and I hold on to a thresher

that is there
unmoving

both these things need to happen
and do and two

corpses, bloated
float by me and I drift

near them carried downstream
and grab onto a corner of the lodge

where I can rest
and know I have done things okay

but I can't call
because my phone was wet

all was submerged
I can only hope that those

above me on the hill, or the hill-river
or the river

figured out what I did
and saved themselves

just in time.