we did not give up

after

our sea monkeys

never hatched

and

did not live

to rule the kingdom

of kindergarten

and now

we’ve welcomed

‘lobo’ the fish

yes, it means wolf

named by

our spanish teacher

whose only pet was a dog

and ‘lobo’

feels like

what a pet means

to her

and to us

and we tried

to make

his new home

look like the ocean

and sparkle like the sea

and say hi to him each day

and feed him when he’s ready

and invite him to nap when we do

and let him hear us singing and playing

and give him clean water when he needs it

and we hope

‘lobo’

is as tough

as a wolf dog

and lives

a happy life

with us

for a long time.

—-

do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly,

don’t tell them where they know the fish.

– mark twain