Set me free and I’ll grant your wish…

While fishing in the blue lagoon
I caught a lovely silver fish,
And he spoke to me. “My boy,” quoth he,
“Please set me free and I’ll grant your wish…
A kingdom of wisdom? A palace of gold?
Or all the goodies your fancies can hold?”
So I said, “OK.” and I threw him free.
And he swam away and he laughed at me.

Today I caught that fish again,
That lovely silver prince of fishes,
And once again he offered me—
If I would only set him free–
Any one of a number of wonderful wishes…
He looks delicious!

--Shel Silverstein