by Jerome Betts

“Over half of those surveyed had no idea that a John Dory was a spiny fish;
12% mistakenly thought ‘he’ was a famous poet, according to the Marine
Stewardship Council poll.”
—Zoe Wood in The Guardian

A strange neglect dogs poor John D.
Once star of poets by the sea,
Who won prize after major prize
With touching thoughts on how Time flies.

Unlike another J.D. (Donne)
Whose fame it seems will run and run
Few know his name or quote his lines
While some fixate on fins and spines.

So, let us now forget the Dean,
Whose memory still is glowing green,
Till Dory, sunk without a trace,
Ascends to take his rightful place.