Stupid Catfish

I

While chest-deep in cool clear movement, trying to convince a fish that rubber worms taste good, and that hooks and filet knives don’t exist, I see her. She pretends to be naked, and dances in a shaft of rogue sunlight that has broken through the pine limb canopy over her angelic head. She looks like fire trapped in ice and set upon an altar for all to crave. I imagine a kingdom of avian humanoids, bowed down before her, chanting mythical love poems in a lost Sumerian tongue.

II

Suddenly, I feel like a stupid catfish. I have forgotten that hooks exist, and that love can easily carve the guts from my torso. My eyes glaze over as I approach the bait, ready to bite into a rubber facsimile of heaven, or, in my most childish daydream; taste Heaven true. I would climb into the frying pan willfully if it meant passage through those beautiful pink lips.

III

I emerge from the water like ten thousand monochrome clichés wrapped in one honest technicolor dream, and move through the air like a ghost. Her eyes are so green I can smell them; like fresh cut grass garnished in salt-air. I am lost like a runaway in her deep woods aura. Everything but her face becomes background noise. No matter what happens next, I have finally seen beauty. I could die happily in the white sand beneath her feet. I am broken.  

Reviews

[Crowley]

I guess that this should have been about a Sucker and not a catfish...lol. Great and origtinal analogies in this one my man, I love it. With Kerry's Sien poem and this poem, I am not sure that men ever really have a chance....its just gonna happen. Fish On!!!!!!

[Stef Outsiders]

i love this, while i was reading i thought about fishing then it sunk in that maybe you on about a woman you liked, it's very clever!! well done!

[Mark]

Equating yourself, your irresistable bait (and the ineluctible fallacy of it) as well as your unavoidable fate, (and the temporary but excruciating loveliness of it) to a catfishs's bait (and fate) is just brilliance! Those pink lips have gobbled up many a resolute fisherman's soul, hardly pausing to spit out the bones afterward!

[Christy Sargent]

Oh my, my...L-O-V-E-L-Y SK! What a great comparison. What a wonderful story. Wonderful words you have chosen to depict this deadly trap. Plastic worms or plastic women...no difference, is there? C.

[Amy Bumpas]

Yes, the stupid catfish...it seemed love was more important, and give
up his gutted soul to have it...lol

[Gone]

They say 'love is blind' The Greeks had four words which we can translate as love. Each on depicting a different aspect. Eros, the sexual attraction, as your poem rightly points out, blinds us to rational though. So captivated by the focus of our attraction, we walk blindly into danger for only the slightest hint of reward. This poem is brilliant in insight and brutal in honesty! Another excellent write.

[Cocoacandy]

wow... way to go.. a really nice way to show us ur soft side sk, really great work! i love it!
*cococbean*

[freelancejouster]

ah, the connections between the first and second stanzas are brilliant, she got you caught, hook line and sinker.

[MuSe Ampoule]

Wow! This actually reminds me of a very clever take on that old short of the tides turning on the old fisherman who discovers a hook in his sandwich...just as the fish reels him in!

Brilliant play on captured by love....just marvelous work!

[OT]

haha I have to agree with Crowley - those darn sirens - this is a brilliant piece - the descriptions spot on - the metaphors - wow - I like the sense of ignorance is bliss almost - if you know not the hardships the niceties are all the sweeter - a touch of happy will ready you for the flames! bittersweet at its best!! nice!

[Moflo]

"I emerged from the water like ten thousand monochrome cliches" -Love it! This was great, the descriptions and the metaphors were fantastic. Such a true to life tale about love, I can definitely relate. Good work.