the fish tank

people with fish

tanks

are a different sort of people.

even if you have

a small clear

bowl with a single

gold fish in it, 

what's the deal?

there's no leash, no ball to chase,

no snuggling on

the couch.

what are you getting out of this?

the filters.

the lights, the fake greenery

floating

up from the white gravel.

is that a windmill down there?

and they name them too.

there goes fred,

and jill,

and francis, and boo.

sprinkling

the little tube of food

on the bubbly surface,

talking to them

like babies

as they rise to the top with

their oval mouths open,

fluttering their fins

just for you.