Perch On Ice

Ingredients:
1 ice auger
1 ice covered pond
1 wooden box (filled with fishing gear)
1 tub of minnows

Directions:
Sled-like haul the full box
across the flat frozen waves.
Drill through the sun’s glare
that shrouds the pond;
let your minnows run deep
to tease the perch
or pickerel
that lurk hidden from the sky.
Watch for springing red pennants
to signal your luck;
pull the icy line
hand over brittle hand,
haul in the bass's arabesques.
Perch, huddled on your box,
pull your cap down
to warm your crisp ears;
pull the frozen sky into your lungs,
exhale clouds of humid joy.
Watch your catch form
glittering sun-sparkled arcs
on the snow-dusted ice.

Douglas Campbell lives in Portland, Oregon. He is Professor Emeritus of art at George Fox University where he taught painting, printmaking, drawing and art history courses. His poetry and artworks have been published in numerous periodicals and journals. You can see Douglas’ artwork at: http://www.douglascampbellart.com