It was a slow day down by the river

It was a slow day down by the river; at first he didn’t see them

Content to feel the breeze fan off the cool clear water

Presently, from the corner of his eye he spied a glint of copper

Next, gold, then, bronze and myriad, as yet unnamed, metallic hues

Ranks of shimmering fish, each the brother to one another

Yet all unique, no two of like metallic sheen and glint

It was a slow day down by the river; and then he didn’t see them

(Written in response to a challenge by a colleague.)