The Fish

Initially, and honestly, Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish", did not interest me in class. Only until it was being systematically dissected by my peers and Professor did I understand how great I am at underestimating a poets ability to create complex beauty out of simplicity. The simplicity being a fish, neither struggling for survival nor interested in the captor who so deeply described his appearance, both inside and out. I actually thought the poem was written by a previous student of the Professor... I don't care much for seeing the works of peers; however, when it turned out to be an authentic poets work I focused more respectfully and read the poem a few times. Reading it more than once, I think, for any poem, means that said poem is a good piece of work. The more you read over a poem the more you seem to discover. Discovery is most important in Literature and Poetry; of course to my opinion. I think discovery in anything feeds, fuels and births curiosity and information. That same curiosity the author had in her poem that caused her to observe, rather eloquently, a fish she had caught, is the very curiosity that saturates in the words and stains others, linking both our curiosity and discoveries to one another. In the poem, entitled "The Fish", I felt intrigued, not by the narrative, but more curiously, the fish. The fish was given a character, so much so, the entire poem came to life through just the mention of him, in great detail I will add. The detail was also introduced to the reader warmly. The words used to describe the magnificent fish felt homely, gently, subtle, comfortable. After all, he was just a fish with more color and complexity than a fish cares to be. In the end, the author released the elegant, dignified, but indifferent captured fish.