November 2021

By Suzanne S. Austin-Hill

We, the fish, would like a word. 1
We, the fish, ask you to knock it off. 1
liquid fertilizer release
toxic bloom torments the region
abnormal in size, strength, and severity
like a plague

Waters suffer a heart attack
massive fish kills
a first – animals, dead, on dry land
a stench hovers
human health compromised

Booming truths fall on deaf ears 2
Our Mother cannot fight back her tears
Florida get your act together
Stop arguing; work together
Problem solve; help us

The Mission: Waters everywhere
Swimmable. Fishable. Loveable. 3

Notes
1 https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/07/16/we-the-fish-of-st-petersburgs-red-tide-ask-you-to-knock-it-off/
2 https://link.biblegateway.com/view/5ef509c547a9ee30313dc81aetrfp.6to/3a46576e
3 https://lakecane.com

By Michael Zahn

I love sloppy swimmers,
the swimmers who wobble,
the bathers who bobble,
whose strokes are not smooth.

Undaunted by taunting,
some slap the water,
can’t kick like a clock,
some could lose weight,
some can’t swim straight,
some are just dreaming
of post-swim cake.

These are my people!
Imperfect bodies,
imperfect souls,
accepting the fact
they’ll never win gold.

But still they show up,
wobbles, bobbles and all,
compelled to respond
to the water’s call.