Fishbowl | Teen Ink

Fishbowl

July 21, 2012
By so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."


I peek outside from
Behind the glass.
Azure surrounds me,
A glint of bright orange here and there.
Her mouth moves open and closed,
Laughing,
I cannot hear her.

I look myself over,
And don’t see anything wrong.
Bubbles fly from my mouth.
Pointing fingers,
Taps on the glass.
Tink, Tink.
The glass shakes, but sadly
Does not break.

There’s one, two, three…
Four girls.
Tink, Tink.
It seems like thousands.
Laughing, mocking.

Pebbles crush below me,
Their colors
Blue, purple, and green.
Tink, Tink.

Girls looking at me,
Looking at their leader
Like a pack of wolves.
Tink, Tink.

I see a sign,
“Please don’t touch the glass”,
As if they care.
I rather them break the glass,
Than leave me alone.
Tink, Tink.

This is
What it’s like to
Live in a
Fishbowl.


The author's comments:
This piece is from the perspective of a fish living in a fishbowl, isolated from the rest of the world. The fishbowl is a metaphor about bullying. When the victim is being bullied, they feel disconnected from the group and exposed, because the bully can see them from every single angle.

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This article has 52 comments.


so_joy SILVER said...
on Dec. 2 2013 at 6:42 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!

on Sep. 21 2013 at 1:41 pm
CelebrateDifferences, Long Island, New York
0 articles 0 photos 71 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Gods of Olympus.” Piper stared at Leo. “What happened to you?”
His hair was greased back. He had welding goggles on his forehead, a lipstick mark on his cheek, tattoos all over his arms, and a T-shirt that read HOT STUFF, BAD BOY, and TEAM LEO.
“Long story,” he said.”

The anology between the fishbowl and bullying is genius. From my understanding,  the fishbowl is like a bubble of insecurities that one cannot break free from. Pure genius.

so_joy SILVER said...
on Feb. 26 2013 at 9:37 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!

on Feb. 21 2013 at 7:15 pm
Anansesem BRONZE, Cave Spring, Georgia
1 article 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Will our life not be a tunnel between two vague clarities? Or will it not be a clarity between two dark triangles?" ~Pablo Neruda

What an original connection! I like to keep fish, but I kind of feel sorry for them at the same time.

so_joy SILVER said...
on Feb. 20 2013 at 10:11 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you so much!

on Feb. 20 2013 at 8:35 pm
maddireigle SILVER, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
7 articles 2 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you wish to see in this world."

I really liked this, it's nice to read something that makes you  think. Like connecting the metaphor of the fishbowl and bullying in my head. Good job! c:

so_joy SILVER said...
on Feb. 13 2013 at 6:55 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!

on Feb. 12 2013 at 7:37 pm
TheSkyOwesMeRain GOLD, Irvine, California
13 articles 1 photo 299 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life isn't measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments which take your breath away.

You are only as strong as your weakest link.

Oh, I thought it was the girl at first :P Great job! I feel sorry for the gold fish now :(

so_joy SILVER said...
on Jan. 7 2013 at 11:18 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!

Setizia GOLD said...
on Jan. 6 2013 at 6:23 pm
Setizia GOLD, Darnestown, Maryland
13 articles 5 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
The purpose of life is to search eternally for the purpose of life

Awesome! The otomotopia really moves it from a poem to a fully colored image in all senses. Plus, I have a new respect for my own pet goldfish :D.

so_joy SILVER said...
on Dec. 13 2012 at 9:17 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you so much!

on Dec. 12 2012 at 11:07 pm
Padoodallee GOLD, Haven, Kansas
13 articles 0 photos 120 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." -Michelangelou

You put so much character into your writing! You simplified your words to mimic the thoughts I would imagine a fish would make but you even made it deep and meaningful. Very impressive! Somehow adding the part about the color of the rocks really added to the poem. It somehow brought the perspective down to the fish and what it would look at. Good Job =)

so_joy SILVER said...
on Dec. 10 2012 at 9:44 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you so much! I will return the favor as soon as possible :)

on Dec. 7 2012 at 10:06 pm
AlexanderQ GOLD, Oak Creek, Colorado
12 articles 0 photos 37 comments
I like that it has a deeper meaning and the repetition of the sounds at the end of every verse. Once again, could you possibly read, comment, and rate my work? I kept my promise hahaha and read, commented, and rated all of your poems and enjoyed and loved each of them. You are a very good writer! :)

so_joy SILVER said...
on Nov. 30 2012 at 10:34 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank You SO MUCH!!!

so_joy SILVER said...
on Nov. 28 2012 at 12:46 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!!

on Nov. 27 2012 at 3:56 pm
ChobaniLuvinPenguin PLATINUM, Brooklyn, New York
29 articles 0 photos 85 comments

Favorite Quote:
"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well."
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

I tried posting a comment a minute ago but I guess it didn't work. Anyway, I'll try to remember what I said in that one... Great job on the poem! I love the metaphor! I'm sure many of us can relate to it. It offers a different viewpoint. It's simple, yet powerful. It also made me feel bad about all the times that I've tapped on the glass at aquariums. :> Awesome job!

so_joy SILVER said...
on Nov. 18 2012 at 5:49 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Do you mind checking out my other poem, Sitting Alone? I think you'll enjoy it.

so_joy SILVER said...
on Nov. 17 2012 at 5:46 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!

OldYoungOne said...
on Nov. 16 2012 at 2:55 pm
totally agree i thought the same exact thing lol but i like the perspective