POEM A DAY – April 18 – VANESSA SHIELDS

Yellow Fish

I have one of those standing fish vases
mouth agape, awaiting water
before it glug, glug, glugs in joyous
sonority after I fill it, pour. It is yellow.
It waits beside the blue flower pot
homing a lush fern. Yesterday, after
the panicked rush to the vet
after stuffing my face with fresh
pita and garlic, after making a
nutella cookie sandwich, I washed
dishes at the kitchen sink and the
yellow fish winked at me. Reminded
me to water the plants. To embrace
an open-mouthed patience. To fill up
with water. To glug, glug, glug
when I pour.