So my fish died.

Hello, friends!

It’s been a long week. I’ve been sick for the last few days, all while trying for my finals and, much to my dismay, I found my lovely beta fish dead in his tank (RIP Bernard). It’s just been a rough past couple of days and my poor dead fish seemed to be the physical manifestation of it. So, in a moment of sadness, I wrote a little poem for my fish who kept me company during my freshman year and first half of my sophomore year. You’ll be surprised what can inspire poetry. I find it’s often the little things. So, without further ado, enjoy my homage.

Blue scales and bubbles
The gentle hum of the filter
You were a quiet, honest presence
In a world of noise and worry.

I looked forward to those moments
When I’d sprinkle your food inside
And you’d come out
And share a meal with me
For that is how connection is made

I had a suspicion that I was going soft
When I bought you plants and pebbles
To decorate your home.
But I wanted you to be happy
Because that is my nature
As it was yours to you bump against the glass when I came home every day.
I told myself it was your way of say hi.

I knew I had gone soft
When I found your body plastered against the filter,
And your beautiful scales sucked away.

And when I settled for sleep
And looked to my right,
I wasn’t greeted with the flick of a tail,
Or the healing hum of the tank.

Just an empty container of pebble and rock
With no soul inside.
I cried more than I thought I would
For something so small
But so beautiful.