If Anyfin was Possible
if wishes were fishes we’d all cast nets
knot together jumpers, buckle school shoes into tackle
put pencil pots in socks to drag the tangles under
haul them up fulfilled with fishes, gasping in wonder
if dreams were streams my road would be a river
where motorboats speed faster than our minds
abandoned plans left in the parking spots
would hoist their sails and wake to lucky winds
if troubles were bubbles i’d spot my Dad
swimming home looking much sillier than sad
with a paper-clipped nose, his lips pressed closed
in a smile that no bubbles could escape
if laughter were a life raft we’d keep each other floating
having fun, telling tales ridiculous enough
to make the stormy waves double over at our joking
and the gale laugh itself out of puff
if wishes were fishes we’d all cast nets
to catch our heart’s desires or to mend regrets
if anyfin was possible, I’d ask for Mum
and up from the depths of my memories, she’d come
knot together jumpers, buckle school shoes into tackle
put pencil pots in socks to drag the tangles under
haul them up fulfilled with fishes, gasping in wonder
if dreams were streams my road would be a river
where motorboats speed faster than our minds
abandoned plans left in the parking spots
would hoist their sails and wake to lucky winds
if troubles were bubbles i’d spot my Dad
swimming home looking much sillier than sad
with a paper-clipped nose, his lips pressed closed
in a smile that no bubbles could escape
if laughter were a life raft we’d keep each other floating
having fun, telling tales ridiculous enough
to make the stormy waves double over at our joking
and the gale laugh itself out of puff
if wishes were fishes we’d all cast nets
to catch our heart’s desires or to mend regrets
if anyfin was possible, I’d ask for Mum
and up from the depths of my memories, she’d come
This poem is copyright (©) Catherine Olver 2023

About the Writer
Catherine Olver
Catherine is a writer and researcher in children’s literature at the University of Cambridge. She has a special interest in how literature can help humans respect nature, but she loves reading, writing, and teaching poetry on all topics. Some of her other poems have been published in the Emma Press anthologies of Love and Kings and Queens and in The Goose journal.