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This poem is taken from PN Review 152, Volume 29 Number 6, July - August 2003.

Five Poems Jeremy Over

The Exhibition of the Fishes

Quick dactyls, we observed, succeeded best
with a large speaking-trumpet held close to their hives
as fishes have no eyelids.

But we were still at a loss for
what is a sponge?
To most people it is a complete mystery.
There is still much we don't understand about sponges.
All the same a sponge is an animal.
The Breadcrumb Sponge is believed to be an annual.
A sweet polyglot.
Torquay.
Bournville.
Beginning of April.
St Hilda's Lodge.
Letchworth Women's Club.
...


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