Requiem for a goldfish

Sat, 22 Apr 2006 03:55:16 GMT

The following is a poetic tribute to our dear friend Hammerstein, who passed away peacefully on Thursday. Hammerstein will be sadly missed by his lifelong companion Roger, his owners and friends Vic and Dave, and of course by all of us here. We're not really sure how old he was or whether he suffered much, but he was swimming upside down for a while which was sorta funny to watch but probably not very fun for him (we did try to heal him, honestly, but he was beyond the reach of medical science). We were looking after Roger and Hammerstein for Vic and Dave while they are away in northern parts. Vic was very understanding when she heard the news, and although she couldn't be there for the final flush, she did send this poem over, which we were very touched by - I'm sure you will be too.

An Ode to Hammerstein.

O Hammerstein you were a fish,
A pet that is, not a fish in a dish.
You were little and black with eyes that bulged.
No noise you made, no secrets divulged.

You lived in a tank on our kitchen bench
No wife you had, no love for a wench.
You lived with another, his name was Roger,
Your quirky mate, like the Artful Dodger.

Were you in love, the two of you?
I really don't mind I'm sure you knew.
Two male fish in love, it's a beautiful thing,
These days it's the norm, to be sealed with a ring.

You moved in with Sophs, when we moved away,
I always thought I'd see you again one day.
By then, I suppose, you were growing weary,
Your eyesight dim, your expression leery.

You were looked after well, your whole long life,
No problems, no worries, no struggling, no strife.
But now you've gone to the big loo in the sky,
And this poem is written, to say goodbye.

Is there a dog?: Obituary

Requiem for a goldfish