Something to Start out the Class!

I, Carp

by Ellen Tsagaris

 The Compleat Angler: … Carp . . . queen of rivers; … good, …fish… not at first bred …  in England … now naturalized."

Things went swimmingly

For us coy koi,

People admired us;

Children fed us

Sporting,

There to feed

The 5000!

History,

Cruel to

Fish.

Who threw

Us into the waters?

We survived, thrived!

Ancient mariners,

Interesting as any

Mermaid.

Shunned

Our beautiful colors scorned,

muses for so much art.

Humans

Came,

From our seas—

We fed you

Inspired you,

Soon,

You’ll

Ooze back into the

Sea.

We outlived

Dodos,

Neanderthals,

We wait.

Quit

Carping on

Carp.