Fish Crossing

“A fish cross? A crossing fish?”

“No, no. Fish crossing.
The fish crossed!
Upright fish.
Nosy fish, smart fish.

Twisty fish.
Floppy fish.
Eager fish.

Muscular.

Went from one side of the path
To the other.
Not swimming;
Walking.
Walking, I say!”

“No, no. No way no how,” you say?

“Yes, yes,” I tort—and retort
(and re-retort):
“Fish crossing,
Carp crossing.
Fish jaywalking, it’s a fact,
In front of me.”

“No way, no way,” you say,
“No way no how,” you say.

“Yes, I say, “Is way.
How? Fish know how.
Fish has know-how.
Fish crossing, you bet.”

--barbsdad

(Note: OK. OK. It’s not believable; I’ll grant you that.

My fishy story’s faithful to the truth, though. I swear
to it.

And that on a bulky stack of thick, large-print
Bibles intended for senior citizens to examine—and
each oldster doing so without the dubious aid of a
freshly washed and dried magnifying glass, I might
add.

Someone has to believe me.

Well, maybe not. But for sure I'd feel a whole lot
better if he or she did.

Even you.)

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: USA

Comments

Janice Pearce

18 years 2 months ago

Fish Crossing

Thanks for the light-heartedness!I've heard a lot of fish stories, but not quite like this. LOL

Lenny of Cohen

18 years 2 months ago

You took

me on a wonderful trip - a fishing trip!!! Always a joy!!! LoC

IKnowNoBox

18 years 2 months ago

something is fishy about this poem...

I feel it baited me... In ink, Dabbler

barbsdad2003

18 years 2 months ago

I Expect Most Folks'll ...

find my story here posted short on belief potential. But it happens to be true. That amazing carp was intent on crossing the eight-foot-wide path to the other side. Once there, it plopped off the edge into the water. I stood quiet ... and still (within about six feet at 90 degrees to the side of the whole thing) ... so as not to frighten or disturb the fish. All the way across, it (she? he?) created an upright S-shape to the right, then to the left, alternating as necessary. The whole incredible journey was quite deliberate, quite purposeful. Don't worry, though, about your own gullibilities ... or lack of them. I expect the tale to be preposterous in the eyes of most listeners (maybe olive them). What I find truly magical about my life is that I so often witness things that I never would've believed possible ... and don't always possess the necessary wisdom to keep silent about them. And thus fail to preserve my illusion of being completely sane ... and in denial re the other possibility or -ies. Thanx for your comments, guys. Just keep in mind that not all fish tales are tales; some are true. Really. Including this one. Yours, Chuck

barbsdad2003

18 years 2 months ago

I should add ...

that the river was at flood stage, with muddy waters on both sides of the path. The carp hoisted itself out of the river onto the dry path's edge, perched to gain balance, then proceeded on its way to the other side. It was obvious the critter knew there'd be water waiting to meet it. If I hadn't held myself stockstill ... and silent ... I don't know how the fish would have reacted. I in fact played a passive, supportive role, unbeknownst to the fish, in the making of this drama ... or vignette. Thanx again, Chuck

IKnowNoBox

18 years 2 months ago

What gets me is that you at that moment

standing next to a torential element noticed something so vividly...and then write about it with wit...by fishy I meant in the nature of fish which have an instict to keep in the water...