O Cod,

I feel a right prawn.

Try to kipper outside the cinema.

Obviously the wrong plaice.

Welcoming bream turns into a foul mackerel,

next minnow she’s slapping my face.

I’m amazed.

What a dolphin to do.

Have I got halibutosis? A stickle back?

Squid in my trousers? No way.

I’m just a flash haddock after her turbots.

Look at this conger eel, I say.

But she’s into big bivalves

and long-distance gurnards,

so I flounder,

What a elver time to distrust

your encrustation.

The sea trout’s out, I’m a failure.

She goes off with a sperm whale.

I light up a bloater.

PETER FINCH