- AQUARIUM AGE -

Grottoed 
to the wall, 
fluorescence afloat
4 wide
2 high  
1 deep, an 
ichthyologism 

pouted 
angel smiles 
in & out 
of model caves, wile 
winding, threading 
faux drifting
forward & back fins, treading 
like diaphanous lingerie
with nowhere to go 

the smalls
hide
in tropical incarpceration 
from striped black mollies’ 
embattled spece 
& speckled zebras 
in checkered futures 
where none is welcomed 
save C.F. Muddypuppy, Jr. 
swabbing below O O O… 
too bubbling unnaturally! 

eyes 
silverblue dart, 
in confine grouper aggress 
downturn at the mouth of hovel 
graveled & pretty pebbled 
this school for alienation 
childfish innocence gone 
of sweet, ingenue faces 
gone 
to 2 by 4 by 1 pool  
tropicalla 
not deep enough!

Vestibule 
“Jake” chirrups 
to his mirror 
& circus clips 
in grey-white plumearray 
& orange jole 
festooned canarycrown 
unfurled-furled 
talons & beak 
that just won’t speak 
but
a plaintive, training whistle 
in the day, night uncuttle 
hungry 
for more than scup seedlings!  

All
Whilst gaelic, loden lizards 
thankfully…scamper.  

H.e.m.IH.H. 
5.13.MMix. 
(For J.I.K.) 

Drawing by Terrianne U. Swift