There was once a bird, a fish and a pond.
“I love you,” said the bird to the fish.

“I love you too,” said the fish in the pond,
“but I can see no future in it.”

True, thought the bird. “Grant me, please, one last thing:
a good bye peck–one kiss and I’ll go.”

“One kiss,” she said. Just then the bird plucked her
from the pond and swallowed her whole.

“But you love me,” she cried from inside him.
“I do,” he smiled, “just not in that way.”

That said, the bird sat for the longest time
till the ripples had all vanished

and the fish had become a memory.
Then he flew away.