Things They Say

They used to say

that infections were caused by miasma

that bad air breathed in

led to cholera and plague.

It wasn’t true

and They don’t say it anymore.

They used to say that goldfish had no memory

but the ones in my pond 

still hide from me

in loving memory of their friends

disappeared from the overcrowded pond

many months ago.

They seem to blame me and they are right.

They were re-homed without consent.

Now science has caught up

and is celebrating

their memory.

They say a lot of things that aren’t true

as knowledge moves on with science.

Even goldfish know better

than to believe 

the things They say.