Entertainment

As usual, 

it was one tank that drew the crowd

down in the museum’s aquarium.

It was not the tank with pike

gawping threateningly,

their teeth barred

in anticipation

and hope 

of attracting an audience.

No,

though there was a monstrous pike in it,

swimming with its mouth wide open. 

But it’s mouth was open wide

in wonder,

in wonder at its strange environment.

Well,

it’s not often that a pike gets to swim

in a drawing room

furnished from times past.

It’s eyes bulged 

with the strangeness of it all.

But

it was a crowd puller, 

though still not enough

to satisfy such an audience,

the pike reflected, 

as it considered the strangeness 

of it’s very un-fishlike companion,

the young girl costume dressed 

to match the drawing room,

standing there dreamlike

or maybe drugged, 

steadying herself

with the chair.

Perhaps earlier she was seated,

when the water was lower.

but now she has to stand.

The water is already

up to her waist

and rising slowly.

The audience gets larger,

their eyes bulging fishlike

as they gawp at the spectacle.

They call it entertainment.

So it goes.

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