Staying Power #145: "Fishing for Words"

An original poem, dedicated to creatives who write

When you read this new poem, I’ll be camping with Jihong on the North Shore of Lake Superior, not far from Tettegouche State Park, where son Nathan has an internship this summer as a nature interpreter. We’ll get to see him in action.

I’ll be back in studio as of Friday. Be well!

FISHING FOR WORDS 
Phyllis Cole-Dai

		for creatives who write

You stand on the edge of a shallow lake,
casting your line, waiting for bites—
some days, not a nibble. 

At last, a hard tug. 

You let the thing run till it seems to be spent, 
then reel it in. 

It flops in your net.

	* * *

Any catch you take home must be gutted and cleaned. 
For this, a keen blade is needed. 

Slice open the belly. 
Remove the crap. 
Maybe chop off the head. 
Save only the flesh that’s worthy. 

	* * *

When you tire of your pole, 
set sail in a boat and head for the open sea. 
Rig your harpoon to fire into blubber. 
Fix one eye on the heavens,
the other on the water. 

Learn to conspire with hidden powers.
When squalls blow in from the margins of your map, 
lash yourself to the mast, 
refuse to turn back. 

When finally you come to the edge of what’s known,
forego your old tools of navigation—
the charts, the watch, the compass, the rules.
Abandon the tiller to natural motion.
Shoot the harpoon into the halo of the sun.
Strip down to your skin with wild laughter
and leap as you are into the bottomless drink.
Sprout gills and fins for swimming the deep.
Become the words you’ve been after.

---

The Gentle Nudge

• No free Zoom groups next week, as I’ll be out of studio.

• Please post in the July Show & Share (via our Chat space at this link).

• Signed up yet for “Poems, Prayers, & Promises”? Get the scoop here!

Check out the full Raft calendar.

---

🧡  Thanks for reading! As part of The Raft, this newsletter is kept afloat by beautiful readers like you. If you like my work, please support it by becoming a paid subscriber, buying my books, or inviting me to speak. And remember to add your 2¢ by leaving comments!