Fish Bride Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Fish Bride

My Dad whom I respect
Though gone long, it’s always
Would start scratch; then lowered
By rope, wheel; bag-skin, shovel, pick,
As he dug pebbles, mud; transferred to ground.
The man there made crate next to wheel, all around.

Dad went down
Slowly, pick by pick
Bag by bag; foot by foot
He shook rope as his tongue
“I have reached; safe and sound.”
He, master, had the right, was the boss.

After that went across
Made tunnel; wells in line
Like warehouse with chimneys.

And he went
And he went

Finally came water for village, for us all,
Sprang spring’s new life.
Reservoir became filled, divided
To people, for houses and the farms.

So far was the men’s work
Thank you.

My wonder came after with fishes;
And the worms and leeches, other kinds,
Where from?
First they hid like brides.
Then ruled the world; as did the grandmas.

Where from?
At skirt of mountains of stones, or the rocks
Sometimes mud and pebbles
Occasions, were bushes.
Living fish?
I wonder, Charles Darwin’s, or God sent?