“It’s a nice fish,” the boy sang, to a child, and they went out. “He’s a nice fish, “ the boy sang, to a child, to see the water flow.
They sang, “It’s a nice fish,” and the boy sang again: It’s a nice fish, and they went out, the boy sang the same as before.
“It’s a nice fish.” the boy sang again, to a child, he sang the same: it’s a nice fish, the boy sang to a child.
And the boy sang, “It’s a nice fish,” it’s a nice fish. The boy sang, the same as before, but the boy sang again. “It’s a nice fish.”
It’s a nice fish, a nice fish. The boy sang, the same as before.
It’s a nice fish, the boy sang again: the boy sang, a nice fish, to the child. “It’s a nice fish,” he sang, it’s a nice fish. The boy sang again.
And he sang again. The boy sang, it’s a nice fish again, the boy sang, a nice fish.
And he sang again, to a child, the boy sang again: it’s a nice fish again. The boy sang to a child, the boy sang a nice fish, he sang again, but the boy sang again again.
“It’s a nice fish,” the boy sang again to a child. “It’s a nice fish,” he sang again. The boy sang again.
They sang again, it’s a nice fish. They sang again. The boy sang again to a child.
He sang again, a nice fish, again. The boy sang again.
Summary of “The Fish”
“The Boy’s Poem” is a poetic text that uses figurative language and metaphorical elements to describe a beautiful fish. The poem is full of vivid imagery and creative metaphors that paint a picture in the reader’s mind. It is a creative expression that evokes emotion and invites the reader to imagine the scene. The poem explores the relationship between a child and the fish, making the story feel engaging and imaginative. The tone is warm and encouraging, as it celebrates the beauty of nature and the joy of discovery.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “The Fish”
- Free Verse: “The Fish” is a prime example of free verse poetry. It does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, allowing the language to flow naturally and the poem to follow the rhythm of the speaker’s thoughts and experiences.
- Form and Structure: The poem’s long, flowing lines and lack of stanza breaks create a sense of continuous observation and a steady, unbroken gaze on the fish’s physical features.
- Shifting Focus: Bishop skillfully shifts the poem’s focus from the external details of the fish to the speaker’s internal reflections, moving from the creature’s physical form to the speaker’s internal state.
- Symbolism: The fish itself functions as a complex symbol that can be interpreted as representing resilience, endurance, the weight of experience, or the beauty of imperfection. The tangled fishing lines symbolize the scars of past battles and the fish’s tenacity.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “The Fish” (continued)
- Imagery: Bishop masterfully employs vivid imagery throughout the poem, engaging multiple senses. Consider the lines describing the fish’s skin: “his brown skin hung in strips like ancient wallpaper.” This image evokes a sense of age, decay, and the passage of time. Similarly, the description of the gills is “fresh and crisp with blood, that can cut so badly,” emphasizing the physical reality of the fish.
- Similes: Bishop uses similes to create striking comparisons. Another example is “like medals with their ribbons frayed and wavering,” which compares the fish’s scars to worn medals, illustrating endurance and wear.
- Metaphor: Bishop uses metaphor to draw comparisons that go beyond literal description. For instance, he describes the fish’s pink swim bladder as “like a big peony,” comparing the organ to a flower and highlighting the delicate beauty of the fish’s inner life.
- Personification: Bishop attributes human qualities to the fish, making the creature’s presence more relatable and emphasizing its life experience.
- Enjambment: Bishop makes extensive use of enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, creating a sense of flow and continuity in the poem’s rhythm.
- Anaphora: Though not a dominant feature, the repetition of the word “rainbow” at the poem’s conclusion emphasizes the speaker’s altered perception and the overwhelming sense of beauty and release.