Six Thirty by the River

The hot August sun

reflects off the water

with a blazing heat.

I walk along the bank

of the river with my fishing rod  

clutched in my hand.

To obtain a better view

of the underwater world,

I raise my hand to shield

the sun’s rays from my eyes.

A sudden movement in the clear, river water

catches my eye.

A lone trout hovering

over the rocky river bottom.

This one does not look to bad!

I roll a piece of dough bait

onto the golden treble hook.

My mind is racing with thoughts

of holding this big fish.

With a slight flick of my wrist,

I send the bait into the trout’s area.

I watch as the bait slowly disappears

into the trout's mouth.

Yes!

My heart starts beat faster and faster

I set the hook to cement the the barbs

thrice into the trout’s mouth.

I feel the line become taut

as the trout fights.

With a last burst of energy,

The trout swims straight

at me to remove the hook.

To prepare my net to scoop up the trout,

I take the trout’s maneuver

to my advantage.

The net traps the trout in its own habitat.

I lift the net with the trout

and reach into its mouth.

I lay the unhooked the trout into the water

and let it swim to the underwater world

whence he came.

I realize that releasing

a big fish is more satisfying than keeping it.  

-Cal Glissman