Virginia

I have this friend in cyberland ,
Virginia, is how she's known.
A better friend one could not find
If this whole world I did comb

We send emails back and forth
There's not a week that's gone
When we don't correspond
We've even talked on the phone.

Virginia didn't have enough to do
To fill her oh so empty day
"A fish tank's just what I need"
She was heard to say.

So the best pet shop she did visit
Got all the info on the fish,
She left with a tank and all the trimmings
To fulfil her new found wish.

Weeks of cycling, she was so careful
Before she brought her new pets home
She read up all the information
At last the tank was done.

A bunch of fishies she did purchase,
Introduced them to their new abode.
They swam around in joyful bliss
To her, their pleasure showed.

Now, this new addiction grew and grew
Virginia needed more
"A BIGGER tank, that's the answer!"
And off she went to the store.

"Seventy Nine Gallons! That's what I need!
I'll get Bob to build a stand."
Cycling started all over again
But Vee had everything in hand.

The tank was ready, more fish bought
With plants and decorations.
Nothing more beautiful was to be seen
What paid off was her patience.

Then alas some weeks later
A couple of fish looked "ICK"
Into the 'hospital' tank they went
Can't let the others get sick!

Now this is the bit I don't understand,
With all her new found knowledge
Why Virginia would use BLEACH to clean
The water transfer buckets!

All but ONE she rinsed and rinsed
No germs could live in this.
She topped up the tanks with water fresh
The last ONE saved for the ICK fish.

The poor ICKs never recovered,
A quick death they did encounter
But at least they went to Fish Heaven
SPOTLESSLY CLEAN to meet their Maker!!

J.M. Furner

Created 28 May 2000