Moby Dick in Scale

 

 

Moby Dick in Scale

 

 

I sleep with the guppies

they've made room in the 

aquarium for me

to lie in a bed of gravel sheets

dream of Angels approaching,

 

their fins of fanfare

flapping in the pretend breeze

provided by the filter

 

I awaken,

attacked, impaled by a 

swordtail's angry ambivalence

awaken 

to the neon tetra's 

flashy blue and red lights

filling the room with

brilliance bouncing off the 

uncertain ceiling

 

Hungry for sustenance

and being vegan,

I find vegetation floating

in peripheral symmetry

but I am not sated---

it is all plastic 

like my unbending dreams

 

I peer out the four windows

lengthwise, widthwise 

unwise

 

quit staring at me...

I don't belong here,

swimming is for the birds.

 

 

erin-cilberto

2/27/22

Reviews

[Miss Sharon]

Now this is too cute and clever! Love it. ~Sharon

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, Sharon,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Jacob… your poetry is Amazing… some Fish have personalities, e.g. Sun Fish in a Fresh Water Tank… and they trick me by going behind Caves and having me guess which side they will Appear. But then again I may have been a Mermaid in the Past.. Flakes are delicious… Pat

[jacob erin-cilberto]

were you in the movie Splash? ha ha.
thank you, Pat,
j.

[Patricia Wedel]

I love the Movie Splash... Showers never give me pretty green Scales. But Antique Tubs ... rub a dub dub... hand me a towel and two Sea Shells... Spring is in the Air. gently, Pat

[Patricia]

for a moment I was scared you would start using sea faring words like Moby Dick and I had an unpleasant high school flashback, yeesh, hated that book and couldn't read past the first few pages but nope you surprised me with this wonderful piece. I love the staging of this and the last three stanzas blew me away, it made me feel small and sad and I am already small and sad, I really loved...it's all plastic, such a simple but perfect description and swimming is for the birds, great last line!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I hated that book as well...maybe more than any I ever tried to read.
thank you for your kind review, Patricia.
j.

[Inessa]

I can relate to the idea of living in an aquarium since I am...or was... an apartment dweller before this invasion occurred. And now, spending nights amongst strangers underground in tunnels and subways.....it's like living in an aquarium all over again. The staring is relentless, privacy is limited and the fear in the eyes of many makes the hairs rise on your neck. I sense many meanings in your poem, Jacob, but this is where my mind wandered when reading your poem. It's a complex and interesting piece. ❤

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I see how you related to this, Inessa, and my heart goes out to you being in that awful situation.read moreI see how you related to this, Inessa, and my heart goes out to you being in that awful situation.
j.

[Andrew John]

Sleeping there and, at same time, seeing swimming as something for birds. Oh, so much more in this. I do like this entire image. I do want to be in an aquarium!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you, Andrew...let me set one up for you.
j.

[M. J. Smith]

Now this takes me back. Always out of step with my "peers." Why do privacy loving ogres make people nervous?
The internet offers anything but privacy. And yes, it can be murder being watched constantly. Well written, Jacob.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for your insights, M.J.
j.