Steve Halle (Palatine, Illinois, USA): from Map of the Hydrogen World: Fishing Near the Power Plant, Waukegan, Illinois
the blue-black lake slick with oil, and rainbowed
by gasoline, burps up a carp for a fisherman
under the façade of the old power plant.
at first the fish flops and fights, hanging from the line.
the fisherman heaves the carp up and leaves
it on concrete breakwall. a sign says carp are rough fish.
the carp stops moving his mouth.
his brown scales rust dull red; his false eye mirrors
the glassy calm of the blue-black lake
slick with oil, and rainbowed by gasoline.
© Steve Halle 2008
by gasoline, burps up a carp for a fisherman
under the façade of the old power plant.
at first the fish flops and fights, hanging from the line.
the fisherman heaves the carp up and leaves
it on concrete breakwall. a sign says carp are rough fish.
the carp stops moving his mouth.
his brown scales rust dull red; his false eye mirrors
the glassy calm of the blue-black lake
slick with oil, and rainbowed by gasoline.
© Steve Halle 2008
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