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.)

[Pryde Foltz]

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.

Laughing and nodding my head … love this piece of whimsical wisdom.

[Marie]

Well you can't interfere with nature. The pike must survive as well as the little fishes.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Some things are just meant to be and we cannot do anything to change it… it is called the circle of life… A fun little poem with a deep meaning.

[Dean]

fun poem--and nice word pictures--enjoyed.

[Coyote Poetry]

Very nice poetry.
"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."
I like the feel of old wisdom and thoughts. Prey or predator. All of us will be eaten one day. I believe God was wise. In death. Great wealth mean little. All of us will travel the same path. Good or bad. A amazing poem. Made me think this early afternoon.
Coyote

[Ed Hart]

high good humor, nicely said
either way the fish is dead
there's another fin somewhere
waiting on your studied care
so cast your line on into the stream
where fishes dream and fishers scheme
but if your line is to the page
the pike will hunt the watery stage