Perca flavescens
suspended in a pool of yellow light.
An awkward angle in a jelly jar;
the barbs, strings and glass
behind the peeling, typed label
beckon a fascinated repulsion.

The gentle swaying corpse-
the satisfying plunk of the dark lid
stale air, acrid scent,
and the 115^th creature of Pandora ’s Box
emerge to the sterile air.

Rough, blue, rubber fingers grasp
the scales and lift the creature
to a new sea of suspended life.

This is science:
The cruel art of warped minds,
An elegant form
with blank, measured eyes
swimming in an ember pond.