Sonnet #416

 A strong man icefishing in a large house pulls up

a golden koi from the hole in the floor

his child meanders to see, a toddling poorly

bloated thing in big boots, stumbles over the top

and down, down, down, heavy red coat, thick pants

all swollen, can't swim, and down

the man quickly reaches in to grab the child

throws his clothes away reaches it's not deep

but cannot reach and tries to jump in

and the water is already solid down low

it's too late, it's already too late

the water will not let the father in

a still thing in clear water; the fish, on land, 

a golden, perfect thing, like an ornament of flesh

To trade without knowing, paid for in death