The month of August has arrived, and I’m moving along on my quest to post a blog daily. I challenged myself to this intense post schedule. I have used the year 2021 to explore the various forms of poetry. This month I decided to write Proverbial forms of poetry. I will pick a proverb, a short common saying, and use it to create a poem in whatever direction the Muse chooses to lead me. However, you must remember we are talking about Word Daddy here. My Muse isn’t dependability or inspirational. He often leaves me high and dry when I need his help the most. Apparently, Proverbials have no particular rules. I will try not to sound cliché. My next attempt to write a Proverbial Poem, I will call Little Fish.
Little Fish
“Big fish eat little fish,’ is a classic proverb first occurring in 1200 text—the meaning being the rich and powerful swallow the poor and weak.
Little Fish
I am a minnow
Swimming alone in my little stream.
Content with my life and circumstance
Floating in still water in a peaceful dream
Of a fortunate future filled with romance
All I want is to mind my own business
Carry on with my small life
I could cost in endless bliss
Without suffering from envy and strife
If I stay away from the big fish
With predatory intents on his mind
My small body wouldn’t make much of a dish
In the jaws of a shark so unkind.
I told myself to keep my head down
Don’t attract attention as you swim
There are so many colorful guppies to be found
That was my philosophy until I ran into him.
It wasn’t that he was hungry,
I was unfortunately in his way.
My strokes must have been too flirty
It caused him to look my way.
He swallowed me with one grisly gulp
He didn’t give me a second thought
As he chewed me to a pulp
I hoped he enjoyed the indigestion that I brought
As he happily swam away.
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
Be sure to follow Molly on Twitter!
love the bit of whimsy at the end
Thank you for reading. Have a blessed day.
Hi Molly. great job. Those flirty little strokes …. watch out.
Thank you.
Great poem! The last 2 lines are especially very charmingly clever.
Thank you.
😁❤️👌🏿
Good for you, Molly, for attempting a daily post. And for trying different styles of poems. A dark proverb and poem with a dark overtone. That seems to be the way of the world, though, doesn’t it? Keep up the good work!
Thank you for reading. Have a blessed day.