Death of an Alaskan Rockfish

I see her cold and smooth
beneath the glassy waves of Alaska,
breathing water
of a hundred steady years.

Delicious scent of Mom’s salmon patties,
canned fish and eggs and crackers
floured and fried
in cooking oil.

Tuna sandwiches dripping tender
succulence. Grease of meat,
vegetable oil melting in mouth.

I see her cold and smooth,
beneath glassy waves
breathing steady water.

Delicious cold of water
open and dark as midnight
sky. Reed and swish and secret
shadow of rocky depth.

Orange fins brushing smooth
elegance. Dance of ocean,
matron turns against the current.

I see her cold and glazed,
upon stainless steel table
mouth slack in

delicious scent of salmon patties,
tuna’s melting flesh
I don’t want to taste again.