Dear South Philly Koi,
I was walking down 8th Street one night and noticed a metal farm feed container outside someone’s house.
Usually those things have plants in the.
Not this one.
Something glimmered inside. I looked closer and realized it was filled with water. And in that water were several koi, quietly circling.
This is on 8th Street. Right in front of someone’s house. Where anyone walking by can lean over and look in.
And somehow, miraculously, there isn’t a single cigarette butt or blue bag of dog shit floating in the water.
It must be strange to be born a fish and end up here. A metal tub on a South Philly sidewalk.
But I love it, and I’m glad you’re here.
I hope the neighborhood cats leave you alone.
I hope your water stays clean.
I wonder what we look like to you, all of us Philadelphians bending down to peer into your little world.
Anyway, you surprised me.
And I like surprises.
Love,
Tim