A Fish Will Not Find Home Before It Dies

Ocean acidity is on the rise,

With many repercussions such as that

A fish will not find home before it dies.

 

The new pH makes fish act in surprise,

Prevents them hearing a new habitat;

Ocean acidity is on the rise.

 

New slower swimming speeds mean their demise,

Their brain pathways arrange in new format;

A fish will not find home before it dies.

 

The sounds of home they cannot recognise,

So how can they know where to lay their hat;

Ocean acidity is on the rise.

 

And unlike us a fish cannot downsize,

Nor can it carry out a coup d’etat;

A fish will not find home before it dies.

 

Whilst we pollute the water with our lies

And praise our ‘noble efforts’ with a pat,

Ocean acidity is on the rise;

A fish will not find home before it dies.

This is a villanelle based on a recent study, which found that an increase in ocean acidification is leading to a proportional lack of auditory development in fish. Coupled with a reduction in swimming speeds and heightened anxiety levels (also brought about by ocean acidification), this means that many fish may not be able to find suitable environments (which they traditionally find using sound) in which to mature and bear young of their own.

An audio version of this poem can be heard here.