The couple pulled the net
across the pond
so the falling
leaves of fall
wouldn’t fall
into the pond,
become saturated,
sink to the bottom
and become sludge,
fouling the pond
and making the
visually brilliant
fish invisible to
the human eye. The
couple is successful
to one degree or
another at keeping out
the leaves, but even
if unsuccessful, and
the pond is not clear,
the fish have food to eat
and remain quite discrete
even when not hiding
or when telling fish tales
behind the cattails.