Twas the Night after it Froze Poem
Make it Freeze !
Twas the night after it Froze, when all over the lake
All the Anglers were stirring, “Our spot is at stake!
The Tip-ups were strung with minnows and hooks,
In hopes that a lunker soon would be took.
The Anglers were nestled all snug in their Sheds,
While visions of lunkers danced in their heads.
And Pappy in his Parka, and I in my cap,
Had just placed a bet for the best winters catch.
When out on the Ice there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my seat to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a snap,
Pulled on the Zipper and threw open the flap.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature flag let loose by a Redear.
Taking more line, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment the hook did stick.
More rapid than me my Pappy he came,
He Laughed, and shouted, and called me a name!
"You Newbie! You rookie! You need to react!
You’re slow! You’re stupid! You’re missing the catch!
It came out of the hole! From my hand it did fall!
Don’t swim away! Swim away! Darn it all!"
As snow drifts that before the winter winds fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So back to the shanty the Anglers they went,
With a bucket full of Minnows, an attitude present.
And then, in a twinkling, I saw on my rod,
The prancing and bobbing of each little nod.
As I drew in my line, and was ready to set,
My pappy exclaimed “you just lost the bet”.
He was Working the line, from his head to his toe,
And the rod was bent, in the fight with this foe.
He landed the fish, now laying on the ice,
When he looked at me and said “boy this is nice”.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, his right jolly old self,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and his mind it was set,
Soon gave me to know, I had lost the bet.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
That I lost the bet, Boy, what a jerk!
When he laid his fingers on my hard earned bucks,
I thought to myself “man this really sucks!
He sprang from his seat, to me he gave a whistle,
And away we all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, when we drove out of sight,
"Good Fishing to all, and to all a good-night!"
