| Muses Review Mark Stellinga's Poetry |
-------------------------------- Sample 7: First Fish With Gramps by Mark Stellinga Source: Phonetical Imagery (2005) , #61 I didn't even know about the trip we were to make. It was the first adventure that old Gramps and I would take. I can't forget the way it felt when I first saw "the lake"! The sunrise made the water seem a blinding sheet of brass. "My boy", said Gramps, "today we're gonna catch ourselves some bass!" then headed for the boat with 2 old rods, some bait, and gas. He yanked the old boat motor, then through off the weathered rope. I asked, "Hey Gramps, want me to drive?" He smiled and chuckled, "Nope! Well, maybe once we're out a ways." My heart went wild with hope! Whenever Gramps said, "maybe", I would usually get my wish, And as we felt the morning breeze, so soft, so clean, so fresh, I said a secret prayer that we would catch "a ton of fish!" A good ways out at last he asked me, "Son, you wanna steer?" I climbed up on his lap and he could sense a trace of fear. He hugged me close to strengthen me, his love was very clear. There's nothin' to it, young man, just take 'er nice and slow, You see that old dead tree right there, that's where we wanna go!" There are so many reasons why I loved my Grandpa so. He helped me cast a line in, then he said, "Be very still, Remember there's no hurry, boy, we've got all day to kill, You're here to catch a big old fish, I promise you, you WILL!" I sat there like a statue, and he whispered soft to me, "You're gonna catch a BIG one, you just wait and see!" And to this day there's no place in the world I'd rather be. It wasn't long before that shiny bobber starts to dance, At first it sort of hypnotized me, I was in a trance, Then Gramps, he hollers, "Yank 'er son!" I knew this was my chance. The bobber dove down in the lake, my heart was pounding fast. The fight was on and I just prayed that, somehow, I could last. Gramps slid near to help and said, You sure know where to cast! Now careful, son, if he's too big the boat just might upset!" Then warmly chuckled, "He's a big one.... better use the net! Holy cow, now that might be the best we ever get!" I just could not believe my eyes, the fish was REALLY BIG! "If you can land a fish like THIS", Gramps said, "then I will dig my very finest lure out of the box, my "lucky jig!" Now Grandpa's "lucky jig" was one that he would never loan! He always said, "This here's the very best jig that I own!" And I am still the only one that I have ever known Who got to use his "lucky jig", that was a special day. And now it's mine, and it gets used, and in the same old way, 'Cause I remember Grandpa's words, "This jig aint for display! It's meant for fishin', don't forget, it?s meant for havin' fun, And if it's still around when your old Grampas' fishin's done, Then it will go to you because I love you so, my son." We sat beneath that tree for hours, it was his favorite nook. That was where he taught me how to tie and bait a hook. It never mattered what we caught, or just how long it took. I always throw a line there, it's still my favorite place. I pray all folks with "little ones" can slip out of "the race" and get the chance to see the look that Gramps saw on my face. Today, what seemed a lake, is but a pond, so very small. I s'pect that "monster fish" I caught was not so big at all! But that first fish with Gramps is still my favorite to recall. |