I
Thin scales of self dry my waters
murky-lit flakes mackled mirrors
tilt slightly only because shaken
by silent throes invisible current
(to swimming’s orchestra, I’ve been deaf)
latch onto nothing but fish-bone
fish-meat under latch and tilt
cold iridescent like hot slaps
II
A native child alone goes fishing
names me yen (“the hologram fish”)
yen, sparkling, becomes
his first catch his first glory and pride
Which way must yen be tilting then
in the sun? for him to unhook the gaff
see yen soak, see yen drip brazen
against an impossible smaragdine sky air
and toss it back back to water?
III
Having gasped for it maybe
I should not be that easily set free
I am human only like yen craving out
of maddening iridescence
but it’s a mean trick, child
to lift me in that air like something
miraculous and then toss me back
A tilt in the sun must be made to last I know
a glint some air briefly on the scales
a fish, a yen must then go back to swim
with itself more clearly in its waters
Mar 27, 2012
Mar 27, 2012 at 8:04 PM UTC
I
Thin scales of self dry my waters
murky-lit flakes mackled mirrors
tilt slightly only because shaken
by silent throes invisible current
(to swimming’s orchestra, I’ve been deaf)
latch onto nothing but fish-bone
fish-meat under latch and tilt
cold iridescent like hot slaps
II
A native child alone goes fishing
names me yen (“the hologram fish”)
yen, sparkling, becomes
his first catch his first glory and pride
Which way must yen be tilting then
in the sun? for him to unhook the gaff
see yen soak, see yen drip brazen
against an impossible smaragdine sky air
and toss it back back to water?
III
Having gasped for it maybe
I should not be that easily set free
I am human only like yen craving out
of maddening iridescence
but it’s a mean trick, child
to lift me in that air like something
miraculous and then toss me back
A tilt in the sun must be made to last I know
a glint some air briefly on the scales
a fish, a yen must then go back to swim
with itself more clearly in its waters
