YOUR CATFISH FRIEND
by Richard Brautigan (1935-1984)
If I were to live my life
in catfish forms
in scaffolds of skin and whiskers
at the bottom of a pond
and you were to come by
.... one evening
when the moon was shining
down into my dark home
and stand there at the edge
.... of my affection
and think, "It's beautiful
here by this pond. I wish
.... somebody loved me,"
I'd love you and be your catfish
friend and drive such lonely
thoughts from your mind
and suddenly you would be
.... at peace,
and ask yourself, "I wonder
if there are any catfish
in this pond? It seems like
a perfect place for them."
From The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster by Richard Brautigan, published by Houghton Mifflin.
Copyright © 1989 by Richard Brautigan. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
The Only WO'N!
