a story about a fish (by maggie hall)

The fish just wanted to swim in the ocean.

Instead it was caught, disemboweled, beheaded
Crammed into a little metal can-box with a couple of other fish -
Sealed with a key and put on a shelf.

One day the can was opened.
It was Sunday afternoon, sports playing loudly on the big screen TV.

The fish didn't want to be skewered by the big fork and laid on a
Saltine.
He didn't want to be gulped and devoured by a tobacco-stained and
smelling, laughing/yelling mouth.
He didn't want to be washed down with a Bud Light.

He didn't want to be in an asshole's literal defecation.

He didn't want to.

He was just a little fish minding his own business swimming in the sea - doing his little fish things.

The ocean, the boat, the fishnet, the sardine factory - they all had
another idea.