Comment from lindafisher

Excellent

The flow and the rhyme are absolutely enchanting. The story is captivating. I love your descriptions of the fight, you have made fishing sound really exciting.

 Comment Written 24-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 24-Jan-2022

Thanks, Linda. If that woodsman hadn't come along, it probably would have been too exciting.

Comment from Spitfire

Exceptional

the last line elicited a chuckle out of me. However, your vivid description about the battle with the fish did make it a foe to be watched. This reminded me of Steinbeck's The Old Man and the Sea."

 Comment Written 23-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 24-Jan-2022

Thanks, Spitfire. That's a really good comparison, although Steinbeck's old man wasn't in as much danger as I was.

Comment from l.raven

Excellent

HI Paul, OMG this was so awesome...there was
no way I was going to stop for any reason...
great rhythm and rhyme...smooth reading...
sweet guy...

and the story tired a person out...you felt
like you were running...actually helping you
catch the fish...thank God the woodsman came by...
that was pretty scary the line wrapped around
the poor boys leg...dragging him around...

my entire family are fisherman and women...
your poem bought back a lot of memories...
we were fishing with my parents...they walked away
for only a minute...we caught a water moccasin on
our line...we pulled it up and were looking at it...
and you could here my father yelling...drop that line as he came running...

this was very exciting my sweet friend...a story very well told...I loveeeee your poem you...and love this precious picture...veryyyyy well written...love Linda xxoo

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 24-Jan-2022

Thanks, Linda. That's a great story about the water moccasin.

reply by l.raven on 24-Jan-2022

your so welcome my sweet friend...love xxoo

Comment from damommy

Excellent

What an adventure. Hilarious! I think your rhyming was great.

My youngest son caught his first lunker when he was 11. What a day, but nothing compared to the day he almost caught a legendary trout. After a 25 minute battle, the big fish snapped the line and got away. My son said he cried! Who wouldn't!

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Jan-2022

I would have cried also.

Comment from Janice Canerdy

Excellent

This really is an excellent, enjoyable narrative poem-- saga, I would call it--with an exciting, well-detailed plot and the flavor of a tall tale, except for God sending the rescuer (perfectly believable)!

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Jan-2022

Thanks, Janice. Who else would have sent the rescuer.

Comment from NmaHassan Muhammad

Exceptional

I will be partial in my judgement as this poem has taken me sky-high with my head swimming in the clouds. The poem tells of an experience the poet had in fishing. Against the poet's warning that he uses no alcohol, I feel the whole poem is an hyperbole - exergerating his experience fishing in a pool - which can only come about from drinking of a pool of alcohol (how ironic!). I love the imagery, metaphors, rhyme, irony, but of all the poetic elements, the voice which is spell-binding in its effect on me.
In a marathon race of poetry form - which I hardly appreciate, mind you - this poem crosses the finish line first!

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Jan-2022

Thank you for your very kind words. I used to run - just half marathons.

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

I was so wrapped in the tale, I lost track of the rhythm and meter. I don't want to go back and count syllables because I'm afraid that might diminish my esteem of the story.
Good job. I liked it.
But maybe because for 30 years I caught trout in the White River in north Arkansas.

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Jan-2022

Thanks, Wayne. Go back and count the syllables. They should be right on.

reply by Wayne Fowler on 22-Jan-2022

smiley face here

Comment from Willie P. Smith

Exceptional

Paul, this is my kind of poem. It's smooth with excellent rhymes and very
understandable for a long, comical poem. I have trouble with the poems I
have to use the dictionary to understand. Your poem held my interest through the last line. Exceptional job.

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Jan-2022

Thanks, Willie. Simple is best. That's what I always try for.

Comment from MissMerri

Excellent

I certainly enjoyed this fish tale, Paul. It is a well-told story with good meter and rhymes and clear description that makes the story feel very real. The clever humor adds much to the story and leaves the reader with an inevitable smile. This was fun to read and will do well in the contest I am certain.

 Comment Written 22-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 22-Jan-2022

Thanks, Adonna. This is one of my favorites. There is a restaurant near home that has a fishing motif. This poem hangs on one of the walls.

Comment from Joanne Gill-Maddick

Excellent

This is a awesome write. Well put together I love your story in a poem. It has a nice flow and rhyme scheme. Nice photo to compliment your words as well. Very well done. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 21-Jan-2022

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reply by the author on 21-Jan-2022

Thanks, Joanne. I hope I have better luck in the contest than I have fishing.