Fish
Left
always left
until she comes
full circle
her pupils wide from the painkillers,
like a fish's
staring everywhere.
Brain tumor
says my host
we drink Asahi Draft
watch the decaying
orbit of the dog.
My host is a fish
scientist
which is like a poet
in water
except afterward
he eats
his subjects raw.
Round and round the dog goes
sight now a single pea
only she can see
The doctor wants to put her down
says my host
but what kind of animal
would do that?
I am dating
the daughter
she sits to the side
face tipped down
the web of her right
hand
just covers
her eyes.
They want to know my prospects
at home I eat shoku-pan
ten yen a slice
white Thai rice
fat Japanese
radish
tofu browned
in miso sauce
cheap
because all
the author's copies in the world
can't buy a single fish.
He has prepared a special
treat
from Taiji
raw whale
Sakana no isshu da yo
It's just another fish
he says again
and again
Eat! Eat!
The mom tsks tsks
at my words
like the flick
of a scaled
tail in water
You've a beautiful house
tsk tsk
It's cold outside
tsk tsk
Time to go
tsk tsk
I want to say
three hundred miles away
in another country
they eat dog
speared on short sticks.
The flesh is fatty pink
smell of mowed grass
taste of olive oil
they all watch
their mouths move
with my mouth
chew
chew
echo
echo.
Outside
the wind blows
snow into white lines
so straight
you wonder
if they will fall at all.
Later
when they are not looking
I cup the rest
lean down
time it just
right
the dog's mouth
opens like a shark's
grateful
yet sly
that last glance up.