This rare fish needed no bait
To swallow your smooth hook
But you slipped the hook out deftly
Tossed the fish back
Not wanting to deal with the guts and innards
Too messy you thought
Not realizing that this fish
Self-eviscerates, commits ritual seppuku
Over piscatorial honor
When you trailed your fingers in the water
This fish returned to digit nibble
Tried to coax them
To a tummytickle
Which would have resulted in a netward leap
And a net gain
Instead, a splash of cold water from your hand
Sends the fish back upstream
Where you see it breach the surface
With a rainbow’s flashdazzle brilliance
David Trudel © 2012
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