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The Wonderful Fish

We show no monstrous crocodile,
Nor any prodigy of Nile;
No Remora that stops your fleet,
Like serjeant's gallants in the street;
No sea-horse which can trot or pace,
Or swim false gallop, post, or race:
For crooked dolphins we not care,
Though on their back a fiddler were:
The like to this fish, which we shew,
Was ne'er in Fish-street, old, or new;
Nor ever served to the sheriff's board,
Or kept in souse for the Mayor Lord.
Had old astronomers but seen
This fish, none else in heaven had been.

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Comments


  • Yemassee Moderators member
    May 3

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    I found no notes for this poem but it reads like possibly a poem that was to explain a photo, possibly a dictionary or a schoolbook? Just a guess. And the fish? No idea, a mermaid? Or maybe some religious or social reference that is lost on me. Maybe it deals with the constellations, like Pisces, (the mention of astronomers) anyone know anything about the stars and such?


    • I-Like-Rhymes Moderators member
      May 6
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      The variety of reference to aquatic creatures, (remora, sea horse, crocodile, dolphin etc) is possibly a reference to so-called false gods rather than the Christian god (The fish has long been a symbol of christianity).
      The final reference to the constellations again is a reference to the false gods after which many constellations and stars are named. The final line
      "This fish, none else in heaven had been."
      Is yet one more reference to one Christian god in place of the many false gods. Heaven here is a deliberately misleading double-entendre. [IMHO]