Fishing Silence

              

              North of Limoges

there is a pond

a lake really

with shiny carp

big as mermaids

silvery skin

with puckered lips

caught with hooks

they gleam

glorious

trophies

in the sun

for tourists

who sleep

in tents

don’t speak

French

do take

photos

to capture

awe

in all

airiness

North of Poughkeepsie

the Hudson River

eddies brackish

anemic carp

big as infants

muddy skin

with puckered lips

caught in nets

squirm

until cradled

your thumb

in its mouth

pacified

snuggles

your frozen

heart

fears not

the air

as you

carry

 your child

to fresh

waters

carp painting from public domain

carp fishing photo, Barrytown, NY 1984

(I am second from the right in the top photo,

third from the right in the bottom  photo.)