.
this poem’s full of fish
/the striped flat orange ones that live in the amazon usually
&motor bikes
a whole garage full
i– pink toenails
against cool grey asphalt
it will rain soon
&the clouds are heavy trucks
a well built highway
fish for dinner
&the view is marvelous
“she’s exactly like my best friend when he was a boy still”
&i often see someone i knew in–
it will see the fish i think
from where it hangs
&maybe on the nights they talk
’bout this and that
the slow­ way that will grow
into a relationship
of some sort
stories of a wild, big river
&a funny boy who sold snacks
on a train once
maybe they won’t talk for days
maybe it’s just unheard signals
winks, a glimpse, misunderstood sometimes
cause they speak different languages
“when i change the water they stay close together,
stressed// flat on their sides” he says
“close to the ground”
i nod “i get this”
&navigate my car back on the highway
one hand on the wheel
one on the iPhone screen, tracing a tiny dot
that promises to take me home
if i would trust
its guidance
jaywalking the moon 
Hey, look at all your art there. Cool picture. Interesting to think what your art might watch – the stories. The fish though, sticking together when their world turns upside down – when the water is taken away, this is what got me. And its hard to tell why – when I first read it, but it did.
Love the personification of the fish…I’ve often wondered what they were talking about….always thought it might be ‘the humans act like a fish out of water.’ 🙂
“Water invented humans as a means of transporting itself.” (paraphrased, Tim Robbins, ~Another Roadside Attraction)
Why do people want to go up when they could go out? Why does water want to go out when it could come down? It’s all about who’s pushing the buttons … and which ones.
I like “full of fish” as an alternative to “full of shit.” I’m going to start using that. “You’re all full of fish.” ~Like that.
“she’s exactly like my best friend when he was a boy still” … This is me. A pre-teen boy.
“the slow­ way that will grow” … This is my favorite line.
“one hand on the wheel” … This line says everything. Really, there’s such a relaxing mood about this. Just chilling out, letting things go. In letting go, you always receive.
i nod “i get this” … Of course you do. You can have everything you want. I feel the universe giving it to you, right now.
Claudia, I love this – maybe they won’t talk for days
maybe it’s just unheard signals
winks, a glimpse, misunderstood sometimes
cause they speak different languages
When we want to communicate, language is not always a barrier.
the art looks very much like it belongs there – through us, the paintings become alive 🙂
I don’t trust GPS either… and there go the pink toenails again…
I particularly like the first stanza and the title!
A refreshing read in many ways. I loved the beginning. 🙂
You never know what fish may be thinking haha cats though may want to eat the fish
Claudia The Beautiful, in her element, surrounded by pictures and words. And fish, of which I am not one.
So wonderful to see your walls adorned with your lovely masterpieces, Claudia! It gives a satisfying feeling to have our own there together with us! Well penned!
Hank
Ah, I am sure your art will tell many stories. I wonder if the paintings talk to one another when you are away. Smiles.
Brilliance! Love your art!
How exciting that you are able to work in such large scale. Your poem (many of your poems, actually) has a dreamlike quality to it–as does much of your artwork.
I love the photo of you and your paintings…like a casual art show, wearing pink toenail polish, of course!
Ninth floor button…of course! Probably like the one that goes no where because superstition says there is no floor…the 13th. Funny how we often wonder but do we actually push the button?!? I am so happy you have found a way to post your art. The computer confounds me so I guess mine will never make it. Thanks!
Awesome colours in ur art, C !!! … about pink toe nails …smiles … I know a man with 1 pink toe nail … and why not, right? We only live once in this fish bowl called life … Love, cat.
I like the reference of fish…fish are very symbolic…I had a dream once that fish fell from the sky, but it wasn’t raining..they were falling into the ocean like stars..anyway this reminded me of that dream…the silent language between fish and man and the universe I guess.
Oh, and I just happen to have pink toe nails…haha..a darker shade of pink…so I had to smile about that…I am sure your navigator will lead you home..
It is nice to see you sitting with our artwork…you are talented may that brush/paint always speak to you…
“your”
I love the poem full of fish…and I like the picture of you as well, cool with all your paintings ~