Poetry page
featuring a poem by Eileen Cecile Hocker

How Old ?!

I’m walking along the dock of the lake behind these kids when they spot
something in the water.
“Eeww! A dead catfish,” they exclaim.
“Why did the catfish die, mommy,” one of the girls asked an older woman who
was accompanying them.
“I don’t know why,” she replied. “Maybe the fish just got old.”
“How old?” asked one of the other girls.
“Probably like eleven,” the first girl figured.
“Yeah, or maybe 43,” added the second girl.

The older woman and I exchanged looks.

Eileen Cecile Hocker
September 2, 2007