the fish bowl has cracked and is leaking its seep out into the void, droplets floating off into the great beyond, like snot-spray in slow motion. it was a glorious fish bowl once. shiny. new. cared for. big enough for all the fish to inhabit. but the fish were fruitful and multiplied. they made many little guppies to swim and consume, consume, consume. cons they grew to be in sequence, and eventually the shiny was slimy, the new looked like spew, and the water was a greenish-brown like…well, you know. then, one day, the orange guppy decided it was time to venture beyond the great clear crystal wall that kept them safe and secure. why? because orange told them that they could only be safe if they had what was out there. hammerhead went to work immediately and, as it were, here we are. the fishbowl cracked, the seep making its slow-mo creep into the void that will now consume us all.
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, April 19, 2026.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: April 22nd, 2026 07:15
- Comment from author about the poem: Part of The Thinking Dark collection.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 7
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Friendship, arqios, Abdullah123
- In collections: The Thinking Dark.
Offline)
Comments5
What a wonderful metaphor of humanity and the world my friend it leaks its message well.
Soren, I appreciate that, my friend…this one definitely came from sitting with that bigger picture for a bit. I’m glad it came through for you. 🌊🐟🔁🙏
We actually had a fish tank (aquarium) that had its bottom plate cut the wrong size , too big so it had this lip almost 4” deep. Someone at home brought down a mug too heavily on it and a crack run though the length of it and tank water seeped out so gradually we didn’t notice for days! Oh memories 🐟 🐠 🕊️🙏🏻
arqios, that’s wild…days of it slowly seeping out and no one noticing. 😅 The memories indeed! That kind of quiet leak hits a little too close to this one. 🌊🐟🔁🙏
OMG i Love the fishbowl metaphor for the general idea of humanity, and how we have likely corrupted our own cicrumstance. A fave
Abdullah, I appreciate that…yeah, that idea of us shaping and corrupting our own space was right at the core of it. I’m really glad it landed with you like that. And thank you for the fave too…means a lot. 🌊🐟🔁🙏
Well said. Your poem explores themes of overconsumption, the consequences of unchecked growth, and the desire for exploration and change despite potential dangers. It reflects on the fragility of environments—both physical and metaphorical—and suggests that the quest for something “better” can lead to self-destruction.
Friendship, that sense of it breaking because of what’s inside it…yeah, that was right there for me while writing it. I appreciate your insights always, my friend. 🌊🐟🔁🙏
Fish bowl... sea...ocean. Oh no! Places we're likely to hear glugs from - we know who! lol.
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