Caught

I caught a tremendous fish
and he cried to me
gurgled for water
for ripples
for the currents' snaring rapids.
He shined in the bitter
sunlight like metallic cold.

On his side, I watched the right
eye widen and bulge and beg
for mercy
he bargained with skipping stones
with the lives of his neighbors
and saltwater cousins.

"Do you know what it's like
to be dragged from your home?
Have you ever resigned yourself
to being scales
on a platter?"

I looked down at the pockets
of the camouflage I wore
where I knew my crusty face was
folded roughly into quarters
I pulled out instead its companion
The fish pleaded, fat lip still
stuck on a ring
but I paid the voice less
attention when knife point began
gutting the thing.