How to Clean a Fish

First find a frail wooden dock
off the shore of a body, gulls
flying low under the waning
pinks and blues, the body of Christ
in your cranium under the fishing
hat pierced with lures. Dab dry
the fish and take a dull butter knife
your wife is now missing and scrape
against the grain of the scales
until smooth. Scissor off all fins
and remove the bitter gills.
Insert a sharp knife into the anus
just above the sports section
covering the slowly rusting table
and slide headward to the base
of the gills. Take a spoon
formerly used for Cream of Wheat
and scoop out all organs, minding
the messy bits that will splatter
toward news of Roger Federer
vanquishing a foe then wash
and dry fish thoroughly. Cut off
the head and toss it from the dock
into the body where it will float,
then sink, then settle, then lodge
between stones, eyes staring up
at a shimmering light that might
be mistaken for home.

First published in South Florida Poetry Journal, November 2021. Also finished 10th in the 2024 Poetry Super Highway Poetry Contest