Fish One, Me None
Fish…stop looking at me like that!
A silver dash through water clear,
light shards dancing in striped ripple,
spayed out broken fingers, tippled in fear,
and this desperate fish tossing and turning,
my line whizzing in time through the wake,
the lapping, curious slapping against the hull.
Closer as I reel him in,
his rainbow scales shimmering,
his eyes so black, determined
pulling hard against the slack,
the surface ever nearing his final breath,
and I now bereft of wanting death.
As I lifted him out, his violent twitching,
mouth a gaping, my heart sank
to see his aged marks,
his battle wounds and scars,
and so pretty his silvery coat,
his wanting life so close.
In thought of all he had been through,
his water life and so persistent to
leave my cruel hands and swim away,
I knew right then, this fish
did not deserve my cutting short his reign,
and so I removed that hook and kissed his crooked look,
and watch him swim away.
Tony DeLorger © 2016
videos on YouTube and book sales on website thoughtsforabeautifulmind.com, Amazon and digitalprintaustralia.com.au/bookstore
- Brutal Night - March 30, 2021
- Like a Breeze Recalls - March 27, 2021
- Torrents - September 5, 2020
Good on you, Tony, doing a “Rex Hunt”letting the fish swim away. I loved this poem.
Although I’m not vegetarian, I hate the thought of killing anything. A hypocrite I suppose, but I believe we’ve always needed meat as a source of nutrients required to keep us evolving. In an apocalypse, I’d probably starve to death. lol Glad you enjoyed it John.
I’ve never fished myself, only observed with resistance. I think if I were left to fend for myself on the land, I would surely go hungry. The eyes of an any animal would get me every time. I was so happy that you let it go. Well done Tony.
Best,
Mel
Exactly the same Mel, If food didn’t come out of a freezer, Id be dead for sure. Cheers!
Awww! Fish had a way to your heart instead of your stomach. Delightful poem, Tony – I enjoyed it.
Thanks Phyllis, yes in the apocalypse, I’ll been one of the first to go. LOL
I love the story of the poets day fishing. I have fished my whole life and never caught a fish only a turtle once. Jamie
Yes I’m no hunter of fisherman, life is precious. I suppose I am a hypocrite, and should be a vegan, but I also know the importance of nutrition. I just don’t want to kill anything. Being human isn’t easy! Cheers!