ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

I've been a bit short on ideas lately, don't blame me for this one. You can blame Bernie over at Bush Verse. I posted a silly little thing for homework and he asked for a 'reprise'.

Bubbles
Leonie Parker © 2011

I’ve got a little goldfish and Bubbles is his name,
but since we got the spa bath he’s never been the same.
My brother put him in there. His mates were taking bets
on just how fast a fish could swim if they turned on the jets.

I tried to rescue Bubbles but sadly boys are boys.
They thought my little goldfish was just one of their toys.
Although I begged and pleaded those boys were undeterred
and so my little goldfish was shaken up and stirred.

Poor Bubbles looked exhausted when they turned off the air
and he was swimming sideways but those boys didn’t care.
I ran into the kitchen to grab a water jug
but only found a teacup before they pulled the plug.

I screamed and tried to grab him but he went down the drain
and then those nasty blighters turned on the taps again,
but he was one tough goldfish and when the drain filled up
he leaped right out the drainpipe and landed in my cup.

Now he’s safe in my bedroom, beside me every day.
I lock the door behind me whenever I’m away
but he gets kinda flaky and I know who to blame
‘cause since we got the spa bath he’s never been the same.

Later …

Seems something in that drainpipe affected him somehow
because my little goldfish looks kinda different now.
I think he needs the ocean; I need to set him free
because my little goldfish looks bigger now to me.

His body’s long and slender and flatter underneath
and like a barracuda he’s grown a set of teeth.
I warned my stupid brother to stay out of his reach
until I found a moment to take him to the beach.

But did my brother listen? No way, he picked the lock
that I’d put on my bedroom. I bet he got a shock
when he approached the fish tank, no doubt prepared to gloat
he’d flushed him down the toilet. - The fish went for his throat!

I told the nice policeman my brother ran away
and though they tried to find him they haven’t til this day
and no one even noticed that Bubbles was gone too.
I think he earned his freedom with all that he’d been through.

Sometimes I think of Bubbles when I go to the sea
but you won’t see me swimming, the ocean’s not for me.
I know he’s out there somewhere and I won’t swim because
his name’s no longer Bubbles. These days we call him Jaws.

Leonie you are wicked! Had me laughing from the second line onwards. Loved the rhyme of because and jaws!

Heather

Thanks Heather. I've been reading Stephen King over the weekend. I think that's behind the 'reprise'. He's an inspiration.

Oooh scarey. I can't wait to see what else you might come up with!

Heather

Knew there was a reason why I don't take baths or go swimming in the sea Leonie and you have now validated my reasoning...Bubbles sounds bad Love it, still laughing.

Cheers

Maureen

Now all my brothers mates are gone. He took them one by one.
He waited till they took a dip, escaping from the sun.
A very patient fish he was. He waited past the break.
One by one they came to him, not knowing their mistake.

He memorised their faces, see, that morning at the spa,
And made a vow unto himself that none would travel far.
A goldfish has a memory that's very short, I'll grant,
But a barracouta's memory is like an elephant!

First the cat and now the pet fish down the loo, you women are rough

Good on ya Leonie.

Loved it Leonie.

Sue

I didn't flush him Neville, I gave him his freedom. We women are actually softies, even a goldfish deserves to be treated with kindness. It was BOYS who were going to flush him.

Thanks Sue, I loved writing it, lots of fun, especially when Bernie suggested the 'reprise'. I kinda like the silly ones.

And thank you Stephen, nice to see some fellas understand. I forgot about the other boys. Good to see them get their comeuppence too.