Plastic Fish Poem by Tony Jolley

Beats me they're still there, actually,
The amount of time our Félix forgets to feed them;
But they're there alright,
Still swimming round and round:
A constant contradiction
To the configuration of their aquarium
In defiance and negation of its angular tedium
Demonstrating a degree of demersal distain
That only fish can muster and maintain.

The filter clogs and the power's been cut,
The temperature falls and the curtains stay shut,
Holidays come and holidays go
How they survive God alone knows;
But winter, spring, summer and fall,
They're there like ducks on a sideshow wall
Every young kids easy-care wish:
Live and kicking, plastic fish.