Sydney Poetry

A social site for poets in Sydney.

Dreams of evolution

I can think of nothing sadder than a goldfish in a bowl.

Swimming in tight circles, such a lonely fishy soul.

With your tiny bulbous eyes, that pine to see the sea.

Longing for a little lover, to share your dull eternity.

All you have for company is a silly plastic weed.

Nothing to look forward to, except tomorrow’s feed.

Some pathetic grubby pebbles form your universe’s base.

I see nothing but depression written on your orange face.

Is your memory so short that this all seems brand new?

Or is that 18-second thing entirely untrue?

Do you ever go to sleep in the darkness of the night?

And dream of evolution, growing wings and taking flight?

Such iridescent beauty, you’re the bauble of the sea.

And if you were my finned captive, I’d be sure to set you free.

4 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dermott Ryder on February 2, 2012 at 13:17

A truly poetic word is ‘Iridescent’ - varying in colour

when seen in different lights or from different angles.

Cleverly chosen and skilfully placed.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kate Toon on February 2, 2012 at 16:39

Thanks for commenting Dermot! Yes a lovely word! I was pleased with 'Bauble of the sea'. Off to check out some of your stuff now!

Thanks
Kate

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Derek Schwarz on February 8, 2012 at 19:52

Kate, I reallly like your poem and am a little taken surprised because I wrote a similarly dismayed poem about the plight of a goldfish. I guess it's not that surprising, seeing as it's a pretty terrible sight to see them swimming around in there. Anyway, my poem goes:

Goldfish

Goldfish,

shimmering to and fro

in your shoe-box tank.

Exploring its treasure

for the trillionth time;

silent and clear

to cover the crime that your eyes –

full of horrific patience –

crystallise through the glass.

Glad somebody else feels the same!

Derek

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kate Toon on February 8, 2012 at 20:06

Hi Derek

Goldfish lovers of the world unite! I'm loving 'horrific patience' what a great phrase!

Kate

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Derek Schwarz on February 9, 2012 at 10:09

Hey Kate,

I also really like your "bauble of the sea", the "grubby pebbles" which form the base of their universe, and I think the rhyming couplets in your poem work really well.

Derek