Welcome to Cozy Poetry Corner by Debra A Winter (Richter)

“A Fish’s Dilemma: To Eat or Be Eaten”

I’m a poor fish swimming silently in a lake.

Waiting for my favorite treat; that yummy fishing bait.

As the anglers dangle their new fishing toys;

to catch their dinner, me their pride and joy.

I’d dangle from their line as they’d reel me in;

Unhooking me, holding me tight, squeezing my dorsal fin.

Then, tossing me into a holding bucket, here I’d stay,

Until they tire from fishing for today.

Once at home, they won’t set me free.

I’d be prepped, scaled and gutted. Oh, poor me.

They would clean me up for the coatings and such.

After all that biz, I wouldn’t feel their touch.

Being torn apart, you don’t feel a thing;

Then dunked in breading, the body will sing.

Floating and sizzling in the hot, scalding frying oil.

Making a body shrivel like crumpled aluminum foil.

As it bubbles and fries to the eater’s delight,

It’s a fisherman’s dream — Fish Fry Friday tonight!

Straight to their hungry bellies you go without a fight.

Hidden, digesting, and totally out of sight.

From swimming in a clean refreshing silent lake –

To a stomach, with hamburger, fries and cake.

What am I thinking? Am I that starved?

Wanting to be scaled, fried and carved?

Now, I wish I were something else, maybe a frog.

Then I could croak, sitting on a moss-covered log.

But then again, people catch frogs too.

I just wonder, is there a recipe for frog stew?

That’s it, I’m now on a diet!