Clearwater River
by Jen Stoddard
Beautiful mountain tops surround
these forested hills as birds sing
and sounds of this river brings peace.
My only thought: to find the right fly
clever enough to fool a fish on this day.
Movement, all in the wrist, straightens
the line. The fuzzy fly rides atop rolling
rapids of cool clear water. The line suddenly
tightens, a fish snags. Fly rod bends, my
practiced tug sets the hook, tip held high,
then low, into net the fish becomes endangered.
He need not fear I’m just here for sport, caught
this day for his beauty, I release his grace
back to his place, here in Clearwater River.
