Smiling Fish (Illustrated by Jimi, Full-color Copperplate Paper)

Author: Jimi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: This is a story that is inwardly gentle yet rich in substance. Beneath the surface tranquility, it reveals a man's deeply closed inner world like a vast ocean. What is faint and distant in the illustrations—you must capture it yourself. Only by looking can you understand the profound and poetic mood, learning how to penetrate without restraint between reality and imagination. The illustrations by author Ling Fu are from the heart; the hand holding the brush is that of a soul that is sensitive and abundant in spirit. Line after line, unending ink and water, the artist works, moving thoughts and intentions. Solitary yet passionately, in the form of a fish, it smiles sincerely at you.
Children's picture book illustrator Liu Zonghui
I saw a fish, a fish that smiled at me. Whether day or night, whenever I passed by, it swam towards me, smiling. Regardless of sunny or rainy days, it seemed to be waiting for me, waiting for me to give it a loving gaze. I wanted this fish. I took a fish, a fish that smiled at me, home. I spoke to it, it wagged its tail, smiled at me. I watched TV late into the night, and it boredly blew a few bubbles, smiling at me. When I took a bath, it stayed close to me affectionately, smiling. It always wore a smile. I liked this fish. I had a fish that was as loyal as a dog, as considerate as a cat, and as loving as a partner. I gently kissed my fish. Good night. I thought, I thought, both my fish and I were asleep.
I saw a fish, a fish glowing green, floating in my house, my fish. It floated gracefully in the air, and I hurriedly chased after it behind, afraid of losing my fish. I followed a green-glowing fish, swimming through the midnight streets. Are all the people in the city asleep? Are they dreaming sweet dreams? It's been a long time since I looked up at the moon, forgotten how to make wishes with the stars. I remembered the familiar dance steps of my youth and couldn't help but dance a little. The forest is perfect for playing hide-and-seek, but where did my friends hide? The morning dew soaked my trouser legs, and the grassland must be full of all kinds of strange insects, right?
I saw a green-glowing fish, drifting softly towards the ocean. We jumped together into the clear and cool sea. My fish and I swam happily in the ocean. Breaststroke, butterfly stroke, breaststroke, freestyle, fancy—oh, and doggy paddle. I was like a fish, swimming freely in the sea. Only then did I realize, I too was a small fish trapped in a glass tank. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't swim out of the transparent boundaries.
I saw a fish, a green-glowing fish, floating in the air. It wagged its tail, still smiling. Its smile suddenly made me feel sad. I couldn't own this fish. This fish that was as loyal as a dog, as considerate as a cat, and as loving as a lover.
When passing an old bridge, I remembered a song I loved to sing in my youth. I couldn't help humming softly in the car. I sent a fish home. To its true home. It wagged its tail and slipped into the boundless blue ocean. This time, I really fell asleep. I gently kissed my fish.
I saw a fish, an ordinary fish, trapped in my house.