A FISHERMAN'S GLORY

This is the story of a fisherman
A man of the sea
A man no longer young
But a man strong in spirit
Steadfast in his devotion to the sea.

He is retired now
But is filled more than ever
With a desire
And a restlessness
To return to the water
To bask in the warm sun
To let the peacefulness
Of the gently rocking waves
Wash over him
As he hauls a few pots or jigs a few fish.

He has his own boat
A small longliner
Looked after with loving care
And immense pride in her ability
To always return him home safely
On a fine summer morning
You can hear him say,
"The water is calm as oil today.
Think I'll take her out
And have a spell jigging."

He knew no fear from the sea
"I feel safer on the deck of a boat
Than driving a car on the highway."
- he would say.
The waves could come mountains high
Break over the wheelhouse
The fog pile in thick as mud
The wind haul to the wester'd
In mighty squalls.
He would smile and say
"I think we're in for a bit of weather."