A fisher-boy's life - part two

A fisher-boy’s life (part two)
‘Come inside and listen to the radio, son,’my father said, that long ago fateful day but war seemed good, gun versus gunexciting enough to this five year old;(not as exciting as the fishing, but still …)Soon we were driving north, father and Iin his Morgan sports, to Walton-le-dale,to his new job, escaping Chigwell bombs,mother, sisters (now three) coming up by trainSeventy five years later I remember thatjourney and other things that children do -but this - this is fishing, nineteen forty two.
Lancashire pond, shiveringly deeprush and weed fringed, overhanging willows,dark skies, menacing, black mirror calm,whatever could be alive down there?I remember my father handing me the rod, the tiny shiny bobble cork, red and white, with quill upright out there in the middle. still; ‘Watch it, now, pay attention’,he instructed, (as if I needed to be told),and yet I missed the strike when,disbelieving, I could no longer see the float,just that plop central to those circles,gone. Too late, Bryan, father said,and still I feel his disappointment in me,for me in spite of all my good intentand in myself for passion spent..
He watched me reeling in the silken line,trembling hands transfixing another wormMy fingers tight upon its hopeless writhing a painful death to make another death(but worms can feel no pain, he’d said)yet such a thrill it seemed to try to kill some wild, some wondrous living thingin watery depths eating my living baitand this time, yes! I feel the line tighten,the quiver and bounce of the split cane rod in my clenched fists, heart thuddingfather issuing unheard instructionsuntil with a final heave, airborne was my fishfive inch silver-flashing red-fin landing flicking and gasping at my feet, looking -yes, looking at me: ‘pick him up, son’, father said; ‘a roach, is he not beautiful?’.Oh yes! In my hands he was so beautiful I smell today the fresh-sour smell of himas for that first time I knew the hunter’s love; strong love enough to never dim.
Bryan IslipPart two of  ‘A fisher-boy’s life’ : May 2014