The Golden Fish

1.There once was a fisherman who lived by the sea
With his wife in a shack. Life was worry-free
They were as old as the ocean and as happy a wave
They made their living through whatever the ocean gave

2.One sunny morning the fisherman headed out
Down the trail to the sea, that which he knew most about
He had thrown down his net through the waters of the South
To collect some supper to fill in his mouth

3.He had observed his catch, plentiful it had been
Suddenly a sparkle caught his eye from within
He had looked through his bag and to his surprise
An astonishing sight staring him straight in his eyes

4.Amongst the regular catch of Pacific trout
Lay a golden fish, shining from tail to snout
What shocked the fisherman close to a stroke
Was nothing to compare as the fish then spoke

5. “Oh gentle fisherman who scouts the seas
Won’t you have some mercy and release me, please?
If you do so I will repay your kind deed
By granting you three wishes. Anything you desire or need.”

6.The fisherman was in shock with what he had heard
But his heart was too big, he released him without word
“Oh thank you, the fish replied. My promise I will keep
Return tomorrow morning, and I will grant what you seek.”

7.The fisherman returned to the shack and his wife
He had told her the events, which had changed his life
With such content and uncontrollable glee
The wife had decided what the first wish should be

8. “Return to this fish, and ask for what I say
I want a golden castle filled with servants by the end of the day.”
The fisherman complied, and by sunrise he returned
He was ready for his first wish, which he had earned

9. “Oh golden fish! Where are you?
I have my first wish, which I want to come true.
Come out of the waters which are ever so clear
Please show yourself, you have nothing to fear.”

10.As soon as the fisherman had spoken his plea
A golden glimmer quickly danced through the sea
"I wish for a castle as bold as you!
Filled with many servants to bid to our dues"

11. “Return to your house and prepare for a surprise
For where your shack once stood, a castle now lies
Within it your wife will shall now reign as queen
By the servants I have granted to cook and to clean”

12. “Oh thank you, kind fish! You are oh so generous!
Do not worry, your existence will remain anonymous”
“I hope I have pleased you, now return to your wife
Tomorrow you must tell me how goes your new life”

13.The fisherman returned as to his amazement
His old shack was changed from rooftop to pavement
It stretched to the skies and was grand as gold
He couldn’t believe the fish had done what he was told

14.He ran inside to greet his dear wife
But to his surprise her eyes were filled with strife
“You are dragging in dirt! Go and eat in the yard!
With the rest of the peasants who work ever so hard!”

15.Melancholic was the fisherman, but he listened to his wife
He did not wish to spoil her happy new life
After supper the wife had decided her next wish
“I must have the finest clothes. Relay this to the fish!”

16.And so the next morning the fisherman made way
To where the golden fish happily swam all day
The fisherman was sad of his wife’s mean ways
Yet with her he still wanted to spend his end of days

17. “Oh golden fish! Where are you?
I have my next wish, which I want to come true.
Come out of the waters which are ever so clear
Please show yourself, you have nothing to fear.”

18. “Hello once again! It is good to see you.
Now tell me your second wish, so that it may come true.”
"My wife feels the need to look her best
She wishes for the finest clothes, to look better than all the rest"

19. “As you wish, my good friend
If that’s what she wants, then I will immediately send
The most beautiful dresses in all the land
Sewn with the finest silk, the best of its brand.”

20. “Thank you, kind fish! You are oh so nice!
To make my wife happy I will never put a price”
And so the fisherman returned to the castle
And approached his wife, but not without hassle

21. “My dear, I am so happy to see you look so snug
All I ask for in return is simply a hug”
“A hug from you? That would dirty my dress!
Now get away and leave me so that I may rest!”

22.The fisherman was hurt. His wife was now changed
With all these new riches she was acting so strange
He had missed the very wife with who he had grown old
She used to be the sweetest gem, now her heart had turned cold

23.As the fisherman reminisced, the wife suddenly yelled
“I have decided my final wish! To the fish this you will tell:
I have all the servants to tend to my needs, and all the finest wear
Yet I yearn to taste the very scales of he who has granted this share!”

24. “Please my dear, do reconsider! The fish is my good friend!”
“How dare you speak against my word! Do this or you will see your end!”
“Yes my dear, as you wish. For you I can’t deny
Whatever your heart desires, for with you my true love lies.”

25.With saddened eyes and mopy face the fisherman took path
To see his friend one last time and have one last good laugh
He could not believe the task at hand. He dreaded this foul wish
For now he had to say goodbye to his friend, the golden fish

26. “Oh golden fish! Where are you?
I have my last wish, which must come true.
Come out of the waters which are ever so clear
Please show yourself, you have nothing to fear.”

27. “Hello my friend! I have awaited the day
To hear your last wish. Now, what have you to say?”
“Oh golden fish that is so kind! I dread I have bad news
My wife’s last wish is a terrible one. She wishes to eat you!”

28. “What shall I do? I do not wish for you to die!
You are my friend ever so dear! Oh why must things be this way, oh why?
“I wish only for your happiness! For you have been too kind
I wish things were the way they used to be. I wish time would rewind.”

29. “You wish is granted good old friend! Go home, to what you seek
From now on things will the way they used to be”
“Oh thank you golden fish! How may I repay you?
“You already have my friend by showing that your heart is true!”

30.The fisherman rejoiced as he quickly ran home
His good old shack was now restored down to every little stone
And on the porch a sight to see
The fisherman’s wife smiling back with glee

31. “Hello my dear! I truly missed you! Tell me of your ventures!”
“You would not believe my golden catch! Truly a rare treasure!”
“Tell me what is this capture? You have me quite enticed!”
“You are my treasure! My big catch! My only golden prize!

32.And so the fisherman lived happily together with his wife
He was truly thankful for to the fish for restoring his old life
But what had happened of the kind-hearted golden fish?
Some say that he lives on through the hearts of those with an honest wish…