DREAMING

OF
BELINDA
by E.J.Ward
 You dream you are a fish.
A fish dreaming of sliding water teeming with life
Where weeds tickle your nose
And tiny creatures hang in the sunlight around you
As you hide in the weeds watching
Because fishes are always watchful
And you are a fish – aren’t you?
A fish called Belinda.
 The sun is hot. It bakes your flank caressingly
Thawing your cold blood as you bask illuminated
Careless of danger in the hot bright light
Dazed - Drowsy - Rocked by the soft rocking water
For you are asleep – aren’t you?
Dreaming you are a fish - a fish called Belinda.
 Suddenly – DANGER! Red Alert!
A swirl of water and you flash into the weeds again
A fish is never safe – a fish must always hide – and watch
Dazzling sun strikes hot into your eyes blinding you
But now you are awake
Something is happening.
 Down in the reed-bed the water is seething
A huge monster appears flashing a giant sword
And then another. And another.
In the greenish ooze you hide, watching
They thrash about, the noise is frightening
It is an invasion. The world is never safe for a fish.
 The water is full of strange creatures now
Swerving and flashing and staring with their eyes
Almost crashing into each other
You hear gobbling noises and you hide deeper in the ooze
Then there are bubbles and small grunts
Who are they eating? This is no time to be a fish.
 You need to get out of here but you are trapped
You dare not show yourself
With a flick of your tail you burrow deep into the ooze
Tiny fishes swarm around you leaving a trail of bubbles
 But what’s this? Two eyes stare into yours. Archie!
He is frightened too. You invite him to hide with you
You like Archie. He is friendly and good-natured.
You have forgotten it is only a dream.
But Archie is shy. All fishes are shy. Afraid of being trapped.
When dusk falls he is still waiting outside listening fearfully
to the ghastly noises above. All fishes are scared of a trap
 The spitting, gobbling, bubbling noise grows louder
“For God’s Sake Archie do you want to get eaten alive?”
But your raised voice frightens him and he panics.
In a tail-flick he has disappeared into a monster’s mouth.
BUT IT IS ONLY A DREAM You dream you are a fish,
A fish called Belinda. Sharing your hiding-place
with someone you met in a dream - ARCHIE!
Who has come back to hide with you
Because it is YOUR dream after all. Isn’t it?