A fisherman's tale

It seemed the little fish could hardly swim;

I thought his back (if fish had such,)

was maybe broke and felt so very sad for him.

For upstream I knew there lurked a Pike

of fearsome manner, deadly bite!

And this poor helpless little thing,

so slender, passive in his look,

might perish in this sylvan brook.

So thus a lure I swiftly cast,

(designed for fishes swimming past),

then patient set myself in wait

to see if he would take the bait.

But Oh! That artful little fish

escaped in one balletic swish,

then swift along the brookstream's flow

he ventured where no fish should go ;

straight to the jaws of that old Pike

and perished in one deadly strike!

But I accept 'tis nature's way

that predator and natural prey,

all have their place, their part to play,

and I most willingly concede

that God's design has greatest need.

Still, foolish heart will rule the head

and many a tear that day I shed ;

For I could not escape a wish

that I had hooked the little fish ~

and denied old Pike his tasty dish.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

I concur with the learned Ed
(His is a wise and wizened head)
As this puckish piscene tale
Instructs, amuses without fail
And on this page a parable
Leaving us and pike justly full;
Indeed, it's all that we could wish
(Though I don't deign to speak for tiny fish.)

[Angi]

Ha! I was rooting for the little guy, too. This was a fun, well spun tale. I especially liked "sylvan brook" The scene transformed into a Rivendell-ish place. (I am a sucker for excuses to imagine those kinds of places.) His little, "balletic swish" is adorable. Nice work. Angi~

[ANTO]

Que sera sera Beccy. Lessons here about the natural order of things - really made me think about the big picture. Thank you

[Beccy]

Thanks Neville.This is from a memory from a long time ago. My grandpa used to take me fishing when I was very young; I never caught much, but I used to love the time spent with him, as did my sister.

Beccy.

[Neville]

This clearly demonstrates your considerable versatility Beccy. An excellent write indeed crammed full of humor and lessons for both young and old alike... N

[Lydia Shutter]

Great allegory here, Beccy. Only the strong survive...so it is in the animal kingdom and in life. The older I am, the more I realize how true this is. You have injected some great humor in this one. I enjoyed the ride your imagination took me on! Lydi**

[Woody]

what elegance in your verse and what beauty, Beccy! thoughtful and amusing.

[emmajoy]

There's immense music in this writing! You tell a tale, you philosophise then leave this reviewer with a smile and urge to - swim like the blazes!

' But Oh! That artful little fish .. escaped in one balletic swish, .. then swift along the brookstream's flow .. he ventured where no fish should go ; '

[jacob erin-cilberto]

nature feeds itself...the stronger survive...it is just the way it is...

but that is the way of life also...sometimes the little fish gets eaten because the big fish is greedy or is too hard to catch.

so sad but life is like this wonderful allegory...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

An artful, imaginative, sensitive and amusing piece here Beccy. Loved 'balletic swish'!

[ANM]

Natures hand caring and cruel by turns, betwixt the hunter and the hunted. Lovely poem, flowed with riverine ease!