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Megan Willome

If Wishes Were Fishes

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If wishes were fishes, the sea would be full.

                   (a misquotation of an English nursery rhyme)
 

And I would divert all those fishes

into the mouth of the Rio Grande near Creede, Colorado.
 

(Any fish that couldn’t survive the transition

from saltwater to freshwater

really

isn’t worth my time.)
 

I would not tell you these fishes were wishes.

I’d just give you some basic fly-fishing equipment.

You must cast your own arc, set your own hook,

catch your own wish.
 

Skin it. Filet it. Pan fry it in butter

with a squeeze of lemon and a splash of white wine.

Adorn it with a sprig of rosemary. Lift

your fork to your mouth

chew

swallow
 

You are full.

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Comments

  2. Suddenly, I am thinking of Dr. Seuss:

    My name is Ish.
    On my hand I have a dish.
    I have a dish
    to help me wish.
    When I wish to make a wish
    I wave my hand with a big swish swish.
    Then I say, “I wish for fish!’

    So…
    If you wish to wish a wish,
    you may swish for fish
    with my Ish wish dish

  5. I am thinking, “Wow. Those have to be some hearty wishes/fishes.” And then I thought, “Wow, those wishes/fishes sure underwent some transformations on the way to making full.” Sounds like some of my prayer fishes.