This piece was published as part of an April Fool’s post in 2015, entitled “Introducing The Paris Review for Young Readers.” It is fictional, and intended purely as a parody. It is not intended to communicate any true or factual information, and is for entertainment purposes only.

Baby Beluga

Charles Simic

If you didn’t see the six-finned whale,
It doesn't matter.
We did, and he mostly floated in the corner.
As for the extra fins,
One got used to them quickly
And thought of other things.
Like, what a cold, dark night
To be out at SeaWorld.
Then the keeper threw a fish
And the whale went after it
With two fins, the other four flapping behind,
Which made one girl shriek with laughter.
She was drunk and so was the man
Who kept kissing her neck.
The whale got the fish and looked back at us.
And that was the whole show.

From The Paris Review for Young Readers, Issue 1, Spring 2015