by Marshall Begel

“Fish That School Together Save Energy, Study Finds”
—The New York Times

Another school day, my life wasting away—
Two fins and a tail in the crowd.
Each day in the shoal, the sheer lack of control
Is leaving me weakened and cowed.

How I long to be free, to discover the sea,
From trenches to eddying reefs,
Ride seahorses’ tails, sing duets with the whales
And question my school-taught beliefs.

Today is my chance—I’ll embrace the expanse,
Before I’m completely stir-crazy!

Ah, who am I kidding? Those depths look forbidding
And frankly, I’m simply too lazy.