Betta

Free-flowing fins trail, elegant coattails of
Blue-red, glimmering in gravity;
Bubble-gems bead into strings overhead,
Garnets and sapphires lit by his scales.
He hangs, vain, watching the mirror through his glass.
Five feet away beyond his world
She gazes too, weighing her worth –
Frowns, kneads imaginary fat,
Considers the dimples in her thighs.

He hovers, seething.
Pectorals beat in ire;
His ruffled collar flares to life.
He eyes himself, his enemy,
Gills throbbing water,
And surges thrashing at the same.