It’s spawning season
You baited your hook carefully
They come into the shallows to spawn
What about the mommy fishes?
I worried
You won’t be catching mommy fishes
will you?
No mommy fishes, you reassured me

Even as you cut
into the glistening bellies
scraping the crystalline beads
of life into the water below
Even as you laughed at me

Even then, only weeks
into what would become love
marriage separation love again
two sons and a life together
you protected me
filtered my reality
through the lens
of your affection
Traded reality
for what might comfort