April Poetry: The Practice of Fishing

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to offer daily poetry during April.

THE PRACTICE OF FISHING
— by Margie Doyle —

You need a sea
…..No fluffy lake
…..Waves breaking beyond waves
You need the boundless main
And threats of separation
As eternal as the Russian peasant called up into the army

For you may never return

You need bigness, immensity
…..Your basic grandeur
…..The infinite
You may be lost to the sea

You need a song
…..A chain gang rhythm
…..The yearning of the high lonesome

You need danger
…..Merciless machinery
…..Unforgiving weather gods
…..Rogue waves
…..Ignorant crews
…..Blasphemous curses
…..Pride of little men

You need a boat
…..Bearing you like the womb
…..Of the great mother sea
…..Humble or all tricked out
…..It has to stay afloat
And bear the gear to lure and capture the bounty

And bring it to reality, to land

You need fish
…..To eat
…..To stay alive
…..To sell to keep others alive
……….Those who make your boat gear
……….Those who give birth to you
……….Those who teach your children
……….Those who speak your plain truth to squat pencil pushers
……….Those who protect us from the greedy

You have to have at least one back
…..To set the bait
…..To pull in the catch
…..To sail the boat
…..To cook the grub
…..To grease the engine
…..To sing the song

You have pledged a vow with your days
…..You will live by fishing – this rough and beautiful life