The Wonderland Aquarium

By Keira Clements

 

Zen Garden by Gaby Saldana

 

 

lionhead, angelfish, diamond tetra, clownfish

foggy hands pressed up to glass

inquisitive wonder 

children of the world

gazing at the unknown

posing a million questions about 

the belly of the hatchetfish 

the wide tail of the guppy and

the flintstone eyes of the shark

captive miracles in a water globe

 

youth seeks to understand 

where life comes and goes

so by nature the kids weave 

a million stories about 

the fish kept inside the tank

 

how those glassy eyes are marbles 

enchanted by a seafaring sorcerer

forever imbued with the magic 

to live and die in water

 

how if you eat enough swordfish

you’ll sprout blades for arms 

and resign to life in the sea

slowly folding inward

til your arms outstretch your body

 

how anyone can be a fish

the cats and dogs

the mice and flies

who covet the ocean 

for its cleanliness

 

they say it’s a peaceful life 

in the deep sea 

where the currents are cool 

and the sand is baked warm 

like the skin of a lover

 

they say that fish colors 

are derived from the clothes 

one wears on transformation,

hence why we should 

always dress nice cause

you never know when a life

of monotony will give way

to a life in the sea

 

adult amusement keeps us 

wondering whether to confer 

the truth upon the children

but our guts say don’t worry about it

greatness is bound to leap from fantasy

so we tend to rest our tongues

and leave them to their dreams

 

clownfish, diamond tetra, angelfish, lionhead

children chatter about rainbow eyes

knitting an alternate world 

with its roots bound in mystery

but look closely at the tank and 

see those million tales written there

engraved in glistening scales