she dangled and swayed
a regal shadow in the pond
trailing an elegant fantail
unhurried
the red and white goldfish
always in a tight orbit around her
planets circling a curious darkness
irresistible like a black hole
with her ink-stained fins
stirring the surface
she would look past me
past the trees the clouds
one day I couldn’t find her
I wondered then if she’d
shed her liquid silhouette
for something more buoyant
perhaps stole a pair of wings
from a lazy butterfly
flew into the sea of night
and found her place
among the stars