I have been enjoying a hobby now for fifty years and more
It all started when I visited my friend who happened to live next door
There in their entrance, something intrigued me when he let me in
That’s when my interest in tropical fish would initially begin
The colours and the activity peaked my curiosity right away
I have continued with this passion up until today
His parents said I could have some guppies if it was okay with Mom and Dad
My parents said they had no qualms which made me very glad
I kept them in a fishbowl and they thrived in this small space
My parents thought I would tire of it, but this certainly wasn’t the case
I took care to clean the bowl and not one of the occupants had died
When I got home from school one day, there was a surprise for me inside
My parents bought me a five gallon starter kit and a place to put it on display
It wasn’t even Christmas or my birthday, I can still envision it today
This hobby I have enjoyed right from that day one
It’s hard to believe that five decades have passed since this begun
The initial tank was the smallest over the years they got bigger still
The one in my basement now takes a hundred and twenty five gallons to fill
So now maintaining this fish tank is quite a chore when it’s time to clean
You are gone so long on this job, people wonder where you’ve been
Now it’s in the basement where I don’t seem to spend much time down there
Other than going down to feed the fish, I have really slackened off with the tender loving care
The live plants have been thriving and I have let them grow
It’s gotten to the point where the fish have no place to go
The tank is dark, it’s never bright
That’s because all the greenery is blocking out the light
What do I have to do to get this aquarium back in shape?
This is a replayed scenario where I can find no escape
I have been going back and forth on whether to continue from year to year
Yesterday the answer came to me and it was crystal clear
I had been in denial unable to make that choice
But when I sat and contemplated, I heard my inner voice
It said this job ahead is mammoth and there is so much of it to do
There was no use in arguing with myself, it was absolutely true
If I set this all up again, months from now I will be back in the same place
This shot of reality just slapped me in the face
I then decided to setup two small tanks in order to put the fish in there
I have so many of them I had to use the pair
I gave my plants to my neighbour Rob who shares this affliction too
Got rid of all the water, sand and ornaments and now I’m almost through
I will finish it tomorrow and then sell it online
Throw the fish in as well, things will go just fine
I have so many accessories, it looks like I’m a hoarder
It would be nice to get rid of everything and finally put things in order
I will put it online and hopefully get rid of it all
If you have an interest, be sure to give me a call
The Black Sheep Poet 