The drowning fish

Nobody could hear her – the fish drowning

As she lay soundlessly groaning

Where they had hauled her

And thrown her under

The sun beating down without mercy



Screaming – with silent gills gasping

They didn’t say poor thing

Let’s put her out of her misery

Let’s finish her quickly



As she lay dying – gills still heaving

They weighed her and scaled her

And cut her guts open

Spilling her life out

In one last gasp


- Rita Putatunda