The Fish

you always were a strange girl now weren’t you?

like the midsummernights party we went to

where towards witching

being tired and hot of dancing

we slipped thro’ the frenchwindows

and arminarmed across the lawn

pausing at the artificial pond

lying liquidblack and limped

in the stricttempo air we kissed

when suddenly you began to tremble

and removing one lavender satin glove knelt

and slipped your hand into the slimy mirror

your face was sad as you brought forth

a switching twitching silver fish

which you lay at my feet

and as the quick tick of the grass

gave way to the slow flop of death

stillkneeling you said softly: ‘dont die little fish’

then you tookoff your other glove

and we lay sadly and we made love

as the dancers danced slowly

the fish stared coldly

and the moon admired its reflection

in the lilypetalled pond