To wait

Cherry

By onemorething

Tue, 17 Mar 2020
  • 2348 reads
9 comments
 

Fishermen know how to wait,

they finger grubs or boilees as bait,

in silent deliberation, onto sharp hooks,

and nudge cylinders and beads, heavy,

for weights, to release their lines

to the seeming emptiness of dark tributaries.

 

Fishermen know how to sit

with uncertainty, their watch both gentle

and precise on reel and float, at one

with the possibility of long inaction and

distant action in the hush of the remote

and changeling weather.

 

Fishermen know how to be still,

to not rush, to fix their thoughts 

to one care or none, to let a river reveal

what gifts it will deliver,

or won't, 

this is the patience of a water-gazer.
 

 

Image from pixabay.

Certificate U
Poem
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

poets know how to wait. Sometimes a word's not too great. Then our foolishness does abate. Stanzas await. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks for the cherries. I'm also taking your weighty comment as subtle editing advice... :)

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

A very calm precise poem, and wise words in light of the current panic stations. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you Drew. Sometimes I am wise, more often I am not. But yes, am not keen on added panic when I already have anxiety issues. I am trying to be zen like a fisherman. :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I'm with you on this poem Rachel, I suffer terrible anxiety and have a sore throat and ache all over. Thank goodness for abc tales where at least we can communicate without being in close contact.

By the way, my partner's a fisherman and will sit for eight to twelve hours sometimes catching nothing, but he just loves the peace and quiet of a lake. I personally don't like the idea of catching fish just to throw them back in again, seems like a lot of pain on the fish for nothing, though I expect a lot of fishermen would disagree.

Glad you put this poem on because I relate to it.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Oh Jenny. Am sorry you're feeling poorly. I hope you're being looked after. And yes, I feel just the same about writing and posting here, the distraction of writing and communicating with others is a comfort. 
 

And yes, that's it, I think, the tranquility and quiet, but like you I like to look at the water without catching fish. I walk by all the fishermen on the river looking for birds and taking pictures of them which is peace enough. Still, I envy being able to sit still for hours. I think all fishermen would make pretty good Buddhists. 
 

I hope you feel better very soon. Am sending you kind thoughts. And thanks for taking the time to read it. x 

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

A calm, a serenity...exactly what the world needs now. Your poem reads like meditation and does calm the soul with its tempo and imagery ...thanks for the quiet moment - much appreciated today and now another breaking news report is coming on the TV- I think I'll shut it off and read your poem again....tempo...adagio....smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by onemorething on

It makes me very happy that you derived a little calm from this. Best feedback to receive so thank you. It made me feel calmer writing it. The news can feel constant at the moment so I completely switched off from it on Sunday. It leaves a continuous knot of feeling on edge for me after a while. Thanks very much for reading and leaving a comment. :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for your kind thoughts Rachel, they're very much appreciated.

Jenny. x