Notes from an Aquarist’s Granddaughter

Leanne Waverly Sy, Philippines

1. The fish is a common household pet.

2. All species of fish can breathe underwater.

3. You liked black angelfish.

4. The freshwater angelfish belongs to the Cichlidae family.

5. The shape of an angelfish resembles that of an angel, hence its name.

6. Angelfish can live up to 10-15 years in captivity if properly cared for.

7. To write a poem about fish, one must bring it above the surface.

8. The angelfish cried when it was separated from its family.

9. It is advisable to purchase pet fish in pairs or groups.

10. The easiest way to become God is to create an artificial ecosystem.

11. An aquarium is a manmade sanctuary free of polluted air.

12. Fish cannot read poetry. To do so, they must understand human thought.

Nonetheless, your angelfish learned how to read in order to pass the time.

13. The fish is a commonly mistreated pet.

14. The black angelfish is a fallen angel stripped of its purity.

15. Gill flukes are parasitic infections which even pets are susceptible to.

16. Angelfish can recognize their owners. They must miss you.

17. During the Great Flood, the fish were rewarded for being sinless.

18. Pets cannot be returned to the wild, having been doomed to a life of codependence.

19. The angelfish had no place in the Garden of Eden.

20. The doctors should have replaced your lungs with gills.

21. Your fish could not survive without their god. That is why all but one died.

22. What angelfish have in common with angels is their incapacity for salvation.

23. The angelfish cannot fly. It remains trapped underwater, a servant to humanity.

24. I wonder if drowning feels like suffocating on smoke.

25. The black angelfish recognizes your portrait on the wall.

Previously Published in Issue 7 of Honeyguide Literary Magazine

Leanne Waverly Sy is a Chinese Filipino writer based in the Philippines. She is currently pursuing a degree in Creative Writing, with a specialization in Fiction. Her work has been published in Yuzu Press, Healthline Zine, Heights Ateneo, and other publications.