they started stocking the fishery
with rainbow trout a couple of years ago
in the dead of winter the surface is rock solid
inviting ice skaters & parasailers
and of course ice fishermen & women
all of the fish below the ice in near freezing waters
are native except for the rainbow trout
I suppose they survive by not getting caught
december two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
standing in the cloudless water
filled with rocks and sediment
and good vibrations
i cast my line
at a buffeted white boulder
shadowing a four foot pool
i pull and pause the jig with imprecise
rhythm along the creek bed
darting to the left
and to the right
jerking and sliding at my command
like a puppeteer playing the part
i bring home the jig and recast
at the same target as before
one eye focused
on the motion
the other at the rainbow trout
dormant and disinterested
over time my mind wanders
as the jig continues the routine
teasing its nemesis
with its tastiness
destined to vanish into the dark
and revive me from my trance
september two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
I awoke around four
on a Sunday morning
and couldn’t get back to sleep
so I got out of bed
and threw my fishing pole
and tackle box in the back seat
of my Bimmer
headed North to the nearest trout stream
When I reached Monastery Creek
I heard a rooster crow
at a nearby farm
awakening all the superstitious critters
who believed I had come
to save their souls
june two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
i’m itching to get you out
on the county roads
with the top down
speeding and laughing
across two counties
weaving our way
toward the trout stream
marked on the map
alive in our dreams
may two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 