gold fish

the goldfish
in their bowl, know only
the bowl.
the water,
the castle of plastic
at the bottom.
the green
weeds swaying
below their
fins,
their pulsing gills.
they know the shadow
of our hand
coming towards them
to sprinkle food
along
the top.
do they long for the sea,
do they
need more?
to understand what this
life means?
it's hard to say
if they are like you,
or me.