Alligators and Fish:

Fish and alligators can live side-by-side, but in the same way that food stays in the refrigerator in a suburban home. An alligator named Fred wrote this

            poem about a little red fish:

EULOGY TO THE RED FISH

He lived in the tank in the café

Swam back and forth every day.

The only one with personality,

He fought and swam excitedly.

He poked at the other fish habitually.

When they intruded on his space,

And he loved to admire his own face.

Then, one day when I was at the store

Investing in alligator lore,

The little red, the smallest there,

Couldn’t come up for air.

He was removed for fertilizer

And no one was the wiser.

So, if you are a fish and you are red,

It might be wisely said,

You’ll serve us better when you’re dead.

–12-97, 9-02