Grottoed 

to the wall, 

fluorescence afloat

4 wide

2 high  

1 deep, an 

ichthyologism 

pouted 

angel smiles 

in & out 

of model caves, wile 

winding, threading 

faux drifting

forward & back fins, treading 

like diaphanous lingerie

with nowhere to go 

the smalls

hide

in tropical incarpceration 

from striped black mollies’ 

embattled spece 

& speckled zebras 

in checkered futures 

where none is welcomed 

save C.F. Muddypuppy, Jr. 

swabbing below O O O…

too bubbling unnaturally! 

eyes 

silverblue dart, 

in confine grouper aggress 

downturn at the mouth of hovel 

graveled & pretty pebbled 

this school for alienation 

childfish innocence gone 

of sweet, ingenue faces 

gone 

to 2 by 4 by 1 pool 

tropicalla 

not deep enough!

Vestibule 

“Jake” chirrups 

to his mirror 

& circus clips 

in grey-white plumearray 

& orange jole 

festooned canarycrown 

unfurled-furled 

talons & beak 

that just won’t speak 

but

a plaintive, training whistle 

in the day, night uncuttle 

hungry 

for more than scup seedlings!  

All

Whilst gaelic, loden lizards 

thankfully…scamper.  

H.e.m.IH.H. 

5.13.MMix. 

(For J.I.K.) 

Drawing by Terrianne U. Swift