all of her goldfish died
she bought one each day
at the exotic pet shop filled
with fish who eat fish
she put the stranger in a bowl
watched it swim around
went to class
came back finding the fish
floating motionless at the top
dead each day
so she gave up fish for plants
placed in her window
they reached for the sun gracefully
willing and as if pulled madly
trembled, withered, wandered toward death
as if strangled by some invisible
plant canceler
oblivious to all this
she grasped my trusting hand and
led me to her dormitory bed
and in the morning
wondered why
i hadn't died.
-- douglas brent smith
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