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The Fish
its confidence gone
its tail still
its fins eroded
has forgotten how to swim
the loose flaking skin
that used to hold it
in the shape of a fish
floats away wrapped in decay
flags of white skin
surrendering
but it still remembers
something
of the run of the river
its home water
the taste of sex
and how to smell
yes it remembers
how to smell
like a fish
Jim Bennett lives near Liverpool in the UK and is the managing editor of www.poetrykit.org (http://www.poetrykit.org/jim/index.htm). His most recent publication is a poetry collection called "The Man Who Tried To Hug Clouds" (Bluechrome Publishing 2004, 2nd edition 2005). He teaches Creative Writing at the University of Liverpool and tours throughout the year giving readings and performances of his work. (August 2007)