Why do you watch the koi swim
in smooth circles, playing
peek-a-boo with the lily pads?

It’s only a small pond, trimmed
in blue tile, not a crystal ball
to help you decide what to do.

They do this all day, but, you
have no spare time to stall
which way you’ll choose.

Another blood-orange, tired leaf
spirals down from the maple,
dances on the cold water.

Here by the kitchen window, I plunge
my hands into the dish suds, briefly
consider coming out to join you.

Instead, I watch you watch the fish
shimmer like the MRI back-lit, the scan
circling your mind now like your koi.