Sister! Sister! Poem by Famida Basheer

My goldfish died
She lay there floating in her morning bowl
while her sister chewed upon her guts
in silent rebellion
of a hundred snatched lunches.
Such scales of silk!
Is that her natural hue
or was she putting on airs
even in death
to better her sister
in glitter and gold?
What untold war was waged
In these untroubled waters? My gold fish died.
Was it siblicide or suicide?
My gold fish died....
12-03-1999