Scales, Fins and Reflections

SCALES, FINS AND REFLECTIONS


Like reflections from a mirrored glass
my muses lit ideas shining in my past
as my lure was cast by an unfocused mind
to float, eerily, for watery prey to find.
My mind muddled, as I periodically pulled
to lure my Piscean prize, deceptively lulled
to boldly strike, in a hurried, aquatic haste
at the deceiving, plastically formed waste
of the cloaked lure’s hidden, hooked barbs
disguised by the savory frog’s reptilian garb
and dangling from that synthetic terror.
I prayed that the fish would strike in error!

Here I am, sitting still in my canoe,
my life and desires age and brew,
wondering on the things I had done
that shaped my soul where I’d gone!

The floating lure calmed me a spell
I thought of college days, learning well,
studying always, earning my degree,
yet a few times wild, being fast and free!

For rest I trod woods and dells as fun
roaming the land with my rod or gun
feeling this too would perfect my mind,
teach me the nature of the game I’d find!

I played on football fields in teen days
ran junior and senior high football plays,
performed well as guard and linebacker
winning most games; I was not a slacker!

Then hired as an Army logistics advisor,
in civvies, or Army camouflage playing war
I careered the world for thirty long years,
employed in peace or in places I feared!






While fishing I dreamed of rivers run,
Of the countries paddled, trips done,
holes surfed, the difficult ledges I ran,
the wildest rapids ever done by man!

In the U.S., both the south and north,
and eastern creeks, those raging forth,
and Europe’s Flusse; Switzerland, France,
Austria, Belgium, Germany, I chanced!    

I dreamed on launching arrow and bow
competing in bouts where and when I go
and quite often winning, more and more
my awards won here and Europe soared!

Looking at the accomplishments done,
seeing successes and accolades I won,
as my aging became a winning affair;
smart, skilled, successful and quite rare!

I just wish I hadn’t wasted my younger time
learning the successes of my mature prime.
I spent my idle years reflecting on my past,
not making my aged years, in comfort last!   

Then calm water splashed, the fish arose
knocking the lure from its deceptive pose,
from mental reflections I was jolted, shook
into grasping my rod and setting the hook!
The fish launched the lure into the sky,
propelling it upward at least two feet high!
Tugging the rod I set my hook onto empty air,
you see, sadly, the fish really wasn’t there!
Thus repeating goals that I had accomplished
I could not, you see, again reel in the fish!
I must, once more, reflect on just how well
a man my age could remain out of Hell!


   

Rose 214                                                                                      Fritz Crytzer