Aquarium

Their burnished scales flash golden through the glass

As leisurely they glide in water clear,

Gazing in mild surprise, their mouths agape,

At shadowy forms that pause then slowly pass

Outside their world,.  Deftly they steer

Graceful and mute, perfection in their shape,

Conditioned to their element, with mass

Movements that wave along their flanks so sheer,

And undulate.  Vast tracks of time escape

As we look back to that first warm morass

When life emerged, ordained by Heav’n’s decree;

And we, gazing, marvel at the aim

In fish enshrined, know man’s immortal flame

Is like to take us back to that dead sea !

 

Weekly Times     25.11.60