James Bell

 

fishing for beginners

it is usual to have a line
          either actual or one that
                    is carried in the head—
success does depend on this

it is better to be as close
          to water as you can—preferably
                     with a little depth—though
fish are not known for their intellect

it is good practise not to sing
          or chatter for this is serious
                    business and depends on
concentration from both the fish and you

it is customary to throw the fish
          the line—include bait at one end—
                    hold the other—if nothing happens
be assured the fish has not drowned

it will take lots of time as all serious
          fishing does—may never finish
                    the scale of the task is so huge—
remember you are preparing to invade another world

it is said that if you catch a fish
          and let it go the fish will soon forget—
                    only you will remember—
good to know if continuing to fish

 

he senses his temporariness

the water before him
how it licks itself—is less
malleable than it first appears—
feathers fall from the gull with a lame foot

the supermarket trolley, the bicycle—
both have been thrown in mud
have reached a final resting place—
in time will be sucked under

the gull does a stutter dance
on the one good foot as an acceptance

the sun appears from behind clouds—
he watches the transformation take place—
he says a silent farewell to the gull and goes
while trolley and bicycle sink microscopically

 

Copyright © 2008, James Bell.

James Bell lives in North Devon, and co-hosts Exeter's Uncut Poets reading series. Tall Lighthouse published his collection the just vanished place in May 2008.