Spectator poems
From the magazine

Red-finned Blue-eye

Glyn Maxwell
EXPLORE THE ISSUE 12 April 2025
issue 12 April 2025

scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis

One day do I
Meet the Red-finned Blue-eye?
Everybody said I
Met the White-finned Red-eye
And folks say in town I
Wooed the Blue-finned Brown-eye
But did I or do I
Meet the Red-finned Blue-eye?

In another place and time I
Knew the Jade-finned Lime-eye
And dark rumours hold I
Sought the Black-finned Gold-eye,
I’m willing to suppose I
Squired the Green-finned Rose-eye,
But, anybody, do I,
Meet the Red-finned Blue-eye?

Historians will say I
Wed the Mauve-finned Grey-eye,
In a wild waking dream I
Face the Plum-finned Cream-eye,
Therapists all think I
Mean the Jet-finned Pink-eye
But none will ever know I
Met the No-finned No-eye
In the mirror crying Do I,
Do I?