Catch and Release

Catch and Release


Standing in the little creek, he will cast
His line into the water, slinging past
The branches of the nearby trees, the patch
Of tallest trees, thus hoping not to catch
His line among the branches’ burly limbs,
And thus confuse neither balance nor whims,
Whims of fancy drawn to drown out the gloom:
Gloom that had descended as heart-hurts loom
Since his older brother had gone away
Somewhere far away where he’d have to stay:
“Who’ll throw my ball with me, now that he’s gone?”
The thought caught his mind as the hook upon
The branch above did catch, spinning his heart
Like his line spinning around the limb – part
Of his hook sticking as his heart got stuck
In places unwanted, grief’s mire and muck.
He pulled and pulled till the hook came unstuck,
At the same time God’s Word upon him struck:
“Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares
For you!”* He cast again, this time no snares,
Neither from branch nor his thoughts held him up.
But—what luck! Just as he pulled his line up,
He saw his caught-fish fly up in the air
Just as he glimpsed God holding him with care!
He knew at that moment he would get through—
It would not be easy, his heart still blue,
But his heart suddenly filled with God’s peace,
The hurts from his heart did suddenly cease—
When he thought of his brother in God’s care,
He could see him fishing in waters there . . .
He knew he was not stuck with death’s caprice . . .
For just as death did “catch,” God did release!

* I Peter 5:7

Painting by Thomas Hart Benton, Boy Fishing, 1930's

Poem written in response to poetry cues: cast, catch, confuse, and to Benton's painting of "Boy Fishing" as noted on the blog, Simply Snickers: http://simplysnickers.blogspot.com/2009/04/poetry-prompt-through-sunday-april-19.html

Written 4/18/09 - Catch and Release - Angie Bennett Prince