Journal of Writing & Environment


Gutting

 

 

He struck the fish

with a tin fork

and sparks flew like scales

bursting from a silver lump

of metal dug from the ocean

floor alive and thrashing.

 

He stood behind a torrent

of stars, chips of light

and heat and petals

fell with the flinch of rain

as he slit the fish’s side,

flung the guts to the sea.