Story 45: How to Kiss a Fish

First, stand on the shore

Oh so quiet, so still

Wait, wait, wait for the ripples

Yes, the waiting takes skill

When you see your scaly sidekick splash

Strip down to your skivvies

Then wade in a little

And do your best shimmy

Walk toward your marine mate 

Til squishy sand turns to slimy weeds

Then a little ways farther

Wherever your pisces pal lead

Now you’re close, so very close

To your fishy friend’s fins

You must tread water a moment

Before your kiss on the grin

When the song in your heart

Matches the song from the birds

Then pucker your lips

And say precisely these words:

Bubble burble. Swishy splishes

Drizzle dripple. Squirty squishes

Warble whipple. Wishy wishes

Gargle gurgle. Fishy kisses

Now take a deep breath

Let your lungs fill, fill, fill, fill

Then dive deep, deep, deep, deep,

And go for the gills

Go slow underwater

Before your bait buddy dips

No hook, no bobber, no worms

Just a kiss on the lips

So that’s how you do it

I know you wanted to know

Please come back next time

To learn how to hug a hippo