The Big Fish

“The big ones they are hard to git,”

     My father used to say;

“They don’t swim in shadows, boy,

     They’re deep down in the bay

Now if you wanter ketch big fish,

     Jest git a decent pole,

An’ decent bait an’ drop your line

     Way deep down in the hole.”

“The big ones they are shy, my son,”

     My father said to me;

“They don’t like lots of bang an’ noise,

     Nor fuss nor fillergree.

You’ve got to use your brain instid

     Uv lots uv slam an’ swish;

Go easy an’ go sure, my son,

     To ketch the biggest fish.

“The little ones will dart away

     When you thrash round like sin;

They’ll scoot away like frightened sheep,

     Then come right back ag’in.

Them ain’t the kind you want, my son,

     They’s big ones in the hole.

Jest git a decent length uv line,

     An’ use a decent pole.

“It’s jest the same beyond the “Crick”,

     All down the stream uv life;

The biggest fish don’t like the noise,

     The slam–bang nor the strife.

Success ain’t in the shallers, boy,

     He’s deep down in the bay;

You’ve got to use your brain for him,”

     My father used to say.

Aug. 5, ‘09

Thurs.