FISHY FISH EATER

Once upon a time
I went to a Chinese restaurant
In downtown Taipei
The family business was run by Mr Co Chi Afi
(Commander-in Chief of All Fishes) in thee Pacific
He chewed roots as he cooked

I said to him, “I need to eat fish.”
He said, “See here, there are many fishes
There’s tailed fish, tailless fish, finned fish,
Finless fish, scaled fish, scaleless fish,
Wide-mouthed fish, small-mouthed fish,
Round fish, flat fish, slippery fish, rough fish,
Small-eyed fish, large-eyed fish:
Take your pick.”

The fishes were alive and in large bottles
I pointed to one with yellow eyes but it protested
“Of the million fishes in the sea, how come I am the one who got caught?
And let go.

 I pointed to one with a semi-circular mouth
But it protested, “How came I am everybody’s second choice?”
And I let it go.

I pointed to one with short fins
But it protested, “How can you trust Co Chi A Fi,
Knowing only too well that he is a vegetarian?
And I let it go.

The fishes at the Chinese restaurant
Thought I was fishy
And I let them go, one by one
In downtown Taipei

Sam Mbure

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