goldfish you gave me during lunch that day

original flavor, that’s where everything starts

brittle shapes crushed under our tongues and feet

the orange dust left in sidewalk cracks

a celebration of our new friendship

the week after,

it was the rainbow kind

you only ate the red ones

but i didn’t mind

they are all cheddar to me

a never ending ocean resided in your lunchbox

we made stories of our fish adventures

before they disappeared

in our small stomachs

and in joy

the day you told me that you couldn’t remain

that you were meant to swim away

the goldfish magic faded

from our elementary school years

when you said goodbye 

i drowned in a bowl of tears and 

the empty bags you left behind