A Fish Tale

 

A Fish Tale

 

 

clear pond perch

thrive near sandy bottom

of life

nibbling at the feet of the rich

waders

soaking up sun

at the expense

of poor swimmers

doing a backstroke

through murky muddy

midstream poverty

 

perch encircle

but their charade 

is never felt

wealth insulates

isolates

associates

with cold water and cold conscience

 

those perch might as well

go back to the muck pond

and smile

at their clear conscience

and have solace

that their backstroke is perfected

while the rich waders

cannot even do

a dog paddle.

Reviews

[Mysilentembrace]

I think you made two strong observations here -
“ wealth insulates
isolates
associates
with cold water and cold conscience”
Capturing the ways in which money leads others to shift the connections they make and break and how it begins to drive their actions and lack of social awareness to others. Beautifully reflected here!

I also enjoyed this set of lines
“ go back to the muck pond
and smile
at their clear conscience”

Your display of irony of “living in muck” finding someone more clear in themselves and their choices was beautiful. Showing how environments shape us but don’t determine us or our worth. I enjoyed that!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you very much for your kind review, silent.
j.

[DIVYA]

Accepting one's situation with a smile certainly helps feel better about it. Because certain things in this world can never change. The rich have it all while the poor console themselves with the intangible kind of blessings. Who said this world was fair? I loved your metaphor here. Its very beautiful.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, Chris.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

I like how you have used the behaviour of fish in this poem j. I guess people can be like fish. A simple life can often be far more satisfying. Being sheltered by wealth does not prevent stuff happening which can wreck the heart. Better by far to be poor and happy than wealthy and beset by misfortune and misery.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am poor and happy and will vouch for what you just said...thank you, dear Chris.
j.

[John the Baptist]

A fable commenting on haves and have-nots here. Not sure who the clear pond perch are, but they nibble at the feet of the rich, who monopolize the sun at the expense of the poor. The perch do their best, but they make no impact on the rich. It is suggested they go back to their muck pond, where they have a clear conscience.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Probably a very good idea i imagine.
thank you, John.
j.

[carl]

Great observation - enjoyable and appropriate analogy - great lines as in " murky muddy midstream poverty perch..." - carl

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, carl. I appreciate your visits and comments very much.
j.

[Ms claws]

Hi, I'm not rich or poor but I can dog paddle but almost drowned anyway one time.
I think you are saying like the bible says: 'It's better to have only a morsel in peace than a banquet in chaos.'
Well! Gosh! my aunt reads us the Bible every morning and I always think "When is THIS gonna ever be useful?"
You're an awesome writer!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, something very much like that...thank you for your insightful review, Eternity...
j.

[Brad Dehler]

I like this concept and so well laid out in the visuals -surrounded by water, in the waders. But there is so much more. The RICH waders. The perch with a clear conscience; beautifully played out in a pleasant summer day. I feel you have a personal connection to this. Fishing and pondering, beyond a pond.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Very personal connection in more ways than one. Thank you for your kind review, Brad.
j.

[emmajoygreen]

I grinned at the end of what is a very gentle tirade! As ever you used your skill to weave this or that and have it equal a dog paddle! Your drift of words takes the reader on what seems tactical but a hint of unique difference. Well, sir, the unique is most definitely used line by line infinitum as needed. Here is a moral sans blame but with that 'cold water and cold conscience. '

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Your review is better than the poem. Thank you, em.
j.

[emmajoygreen]

Can't and won't argue but not agreeing :)