the pool was home for them and they
were feeding edibles got dumped into
its upper end by waters churning from
the falls above the morsel he had chased
looked like most any other bug or cricket
tempting tossed bouncing in that swirl
but if he’s so smart why the hell
would he do a thing like that and
what’s the point of a treat most any
fish would go for he quick grabbed it up
and ran away why him who knows he happened
to be there he asked for it he can
have it we’ll not miss him he’s shown
what he thinks of us the pleasure he’d
expected turned to pain and all at once
became a threat a struggle for his life
i wonder how he feels he probably
just laughs then goes right on
ignoring us he’d seen it happen twice
before this thrashing battle leading to
the disappearance of a friend who fought
in every direction then just quit a rotten
shame but really now we’ve done
all we can do the more he tried the more
his pain increased he’s lost as far
as we’re concerned and the line that held him
drawing tighter needn’t ask our help
because as his freedom shrank it’s all
his fault like pools when summer’s drought arrives

it’s very hard for a free fish to understand
what’s happening to a hooked one