My Father and I

By luigi_pagano

Sat, 29 Jul 2017
  • 1547 reads
6 comments
 
Fish weren’t safe in the Lake Ceresio
when dad, with a rod, a line and bait,
went fishing on the Melĭde causeway
with me, a young spectator, at his side.
 
He was quite prepared for a long wait
but as soon as the hook hit the water
tenches and trouts fought each other
for the privilege to have the first bite.
 
To say that the shoal was copious
is the truth and not an exaggeration,
which some devotees are prone to do
when describing the size of their haul.
 
Many worms and plenty of catch later
it was time to pack up, leave the site;
the creel was a lacustrine cornucopia
full of delicacies for the dinner table.
 
This was my dad’s favourite pastime
for which he lived and ultimately died
as unfortunately he suffered a stroke
whilst reeling in an unwilling fish.
 
I wasn’t by his side when it happened
but flew home as quickly as I could.
I hoped that he’d be let off the hook,
that he’d recover, but he never did.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2017
Certificate U
Poem
Cherry ripe
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

How lovely to have this vivid memory of your father and sad your hopes were not fulfilled.

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Sad though it is, sometimes we have to face the inevitable, Helen.

Many thanks, Luigi x

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Recollections like these are there to treasure forever. Thank you for sharing your trip down memory lane Luigi.

Jenny. xx

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Yes, Jenny. It is comforting to remember that he had a lot of enjoyment, during his retirement, pursuing his hobby.

Thanks for reading and commenting.
Luigi xx

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

A lovely mixture of happy and poignant memories, touched with your sparkles of humour, Luigi, and bringing in skilful use of unusual words to enrich! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Rhiannon. Interesting that you point out the use of unusual words in my writing. It is in fact something that I inherited from my father. He was a keen reader and, apart from his enthusiasm for fishing, he was also into solving crosswords. It seemed only natural that I followed in my father's footsteps as regards literature and unravelling puzzles,which were the source of my ever growing vocabulary.
As you rightly say, a mixture of sad and happy memories.
Luigi x