The kind-hearted angler was sadly pursuing <br />His calling unhallowed of choking the fishes; <br />He bitterly wept, for of course he was doing <br />An action most strongly opposed to his wishes! <br /> <br />His vertabra shook as he musingly planned <br />How kindly to threadle the worm he'd begun--it <br />Was plain had the reptile possessed a right hand <br />The penitent angler would gladly have wrung it! <br /> <br />He cast in his float filled with tearful emotion <br />And murmured "How fearful, how terrible this is!" <br />And just at that moment, amid some commotion, <br />He jerked out a panting and rather small piscis! <br /> <br />"Unfortunate fishlet, what dread impulse brought you <br />To meddle with bait which I carelessly threw in? <br />My dear little swimmer, I'm sorry I caught you, <br />So please don't blame me for contriving your ruin!" <br /> <br />"O barbel and salmon-trout, tench, dace and gugdeon, <br />O ev'ry fat jack and each eel (not a conger) <br />Why, why will you grieve me and stir up my dudgeon? <br />Go, die on his hooks who has eyes that are stronger!" <br /> <br />But, however, whilst moaning he pulled out a score, <br />And continued his wonderful luck till at last--it <br />Was plain that his soft heart could bear it no more, <br />Too deep were his groans, and--too full was his basket!<br /><br />Norman Rowland Gale<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/most-anglers-are-very-humane/
