Koi in Winter

they barely move
jostle close, ontop of
each other.
dig
orange, white, gold,
fins
tail mouth
into black leaves, stir silt
desperate
for the warmth of earth mud rot.

alien elements offering barest promise of summer to come.
it is still a long long way from here.

the water is martini-cold
straight up
clear.  clean.

the cat drinks, loving the taste of old
moss and fish breath

the fish sense watching eyes.
panic.
swirl breathe spin.
the cat does not notice.  drinks,
saunters away.

dark warm leafy stillness
is forgotten in cold rushing.

kaw jan '10
*****


an evocotive picture