DESCRIBING MY FISH
I have just realised that I don’t mind how good my writing is; if this communicates anything at all then that makes me happy. This is a not very good poem, but it brings me memories of the best holiday I ever had when I used to live with my wife and son. We went to Sabah; stayed with friends from the island. My son had saved up his lunch money for a year to help with the cost of the holiday; my health insurance would have cost more than the whole holiday.
This is set in Sipadan, A famous dive centre. The runway we flew home from was full of holes; the shops on the mainland, guarded by armed security guards. My son claimed he was bitten by a fish on the island and we laughed. We were visited by a stern Philippine navy launch while on the island; maybe in recognition of the tourists who were kidnapped a couple of years before we arrived.
The ending to this poem is sad; I suppose it is in recognition that, although I will always love my son, I haven’t a clue about his life, his relationships, beliefs, work; what brings him joy or for that matter, sadness; nothing at all really. I know he lives in Georgia. I know nothing about that country. Maybe I should find out!
DESCRIBING MY FISH
They hang there; Blue grey, silver, motionless.
Only to me they hang. I do not know why they don’t sink.
The sun’s shafts illuminates them then disappears past, into the darkness of the ocean.
I feel a cold current on my belly, hot sun on my back.
This water is alien, is a silky streak through which I waft my fingers nervously.
I stare. I feel a tug in my stomach. I hear the splashing of my family.
I have a broad smile.
Down here is a silent place. They hang below me.
Later you tease me about my fantastical sharks. Tease me and I protest happily.
Today I have no words to describe them; except sun streaked, silver grey, blue grey. Motionless.
As alien as you are now to me.
As frozen as my memories and yet I saw them as once I saw you:
In another, very different world.
02 02 12
(Photo: nothing to do with Borneo, instead the setting sun on the Clyde, I saw many beautiful sunsets in Sabah!! Dec 2020)
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