I have a whole new sense of respect
for the fish of Rocky River.
The ugly carp with their sucker mouths,
the fighting, jumping steelhead
running against the current
and their brother, the elusive trout.
Oh, the river is quite clear
and shallow in spots,
but they are masters of escape.
I have said a prayer to God
that these giants would not get away,
yet a black carp darts around my leg
and to safety up river,
running against the current.
After this, the fish are gone,
warned as it were to stay away
from the man in the river.
I trudge around hopelessly with my net.
They are on to me.
An old man asks me if I have seen the steelies running,
“yes, I have seen the steelhead running,
running away from me.”
And he reassures me that this is still
a fine way to spend an evening.
In the middle of this shallow river
with the incredible current
is a large rock, where I can sit
and admire the shale cliffs,
which were carved by this water
falling gradually towards Lake Erie.
Down stream is the place
my aunt had dubbed “Mark’s Island,”
the Isle of Mark.
I rechristened thee:
Joshua Island,
the new man of the river
when I am gone.
We named this thing, along
with Lilly Inlet
and Mommy Isle further north.
And in this place
I am reassured of God’s love
for me and His entire creation.
He answered my prayer,
though not in the way I had expected.
No fish came my way last night.
It was not their time to die
and not at my hands.
And not one scale on their backs
came to harm.
In this, he showed me He is in control,
that things will happen in time,
when it is His will.
Glory to Him who created me,
the man of the river.
Submitted by conect11 on 24 April 2007 - 11:41am.
Style / Type:
freeform
(4 votes)
My thoughts on The Man ...
I was taught that italics means something being thought so I am a bit confused at the italics.
I am left feling more curious about your aunt, Mark, Joshua, and Lilly. Taken for “face value” this is surely a masterpiece. Thanks, I really got into this poem it was a very good experience.
Re: My Thoughts On The Man in the River
Thanks for your comment, Mark! I appreciate the feedback.
The italics were meant to add emphasis. The thought process was “I can’t believe these fish escaped so quickly from me having to fight the current.”
My aunt was Ginny, she named “Mark Island” when we would go to the metroparks when I was a kid.
Mark is me.
Joshua is my son.
Lilly is my baby daughter.
If everyone were able to
If everyone were able to identify God’s will as you have done, the world would be….amazingly interesting. You’ve got me thinking about a time or place where a higher spirit iterfered stopping or encouraging me to do something becauseit was their will.Hmm…This was stunning, simple yet the raw truth. Beautiful. “Down stream is the place
my aunt had dubbed “Mark’s Island,”
the Isle of Mark.
I rechristened thee:
Joshua Island,
the new man of the river
when I am gone.
We named this thing, along
with Lilly Inlet
and Mommy Isle further north.
And in this place
I am reassured of God’s love
for me and His entire creation”
Stunning…Were these names of your family members?
Either way gorgeous none the less.
Thanks for the read,
Peace
Your comment on The Man in the River
Thank you so much for your comment! It’s so freeing when you realize that God really is in charge, and that everything will be alright in the end. Joshua is my son, Lilly my daughter, and “mommy” refers to my wife.
Very Very Nice
Thank you :-)
Hey, Mark!
Thought I’d find an early write of yours—-and here it is. What’s most striking for me in this piece is the delightful visual you’ve created.
Takes me back to when as a small child I’d wander cold river waters while admiring the fish … trout, steelhead (rarely), and a variety of early-spawning Pacific Ocean salmon. I recall the noise: It still rings in my ears, the pounding waters, the miniwaterfalls, the whirling rapids that made me dizzy, the slap of leaping salmon falling flat against the river surfaces.
And the oxygen! So pure, so clean, so … well, breathable!
I always wandered up- and downriver directly in the water, my lower legs numb from the cold, my breath frosting the air, my ears made cherry red.
Rich times, fun times. Times when life was good. And when no adults were present to spoil everything.
Thanx for taking me back.
Chuck