Fishing Fever Cured

Dear Doctor – I’m afraid I’ve got

     The fishing fever bad;

If you can send a cure by mail

     I shall be very glad.

I cannot eat or sleep or work,

     My pulse is high and stout;

Is there not something I can take

     To drive this fever out?

Dear Patient – try to patient be –

     I herewith send a cure;

And if you follow every word

     ‘Twill stop your fever sure.

“Go to the country fish all day,

     Take not a thing to eat;

Fall in, get wet, tear clothe, no fish,

     Black flies, swear, cure complete.”

May 28, ‘99