A Twisted Little Poem

By Robert J. Ottaviani

Sometimes stories and poems have real morals that we can all learn from. Our author Bert Ottaviani offers this twisted little original poem about the big one that got away, a fish story with a moral. Enjoy this quick read over the holidays when you have a free moment to reflect.

There was an old man who lived by the sea and woke up each day for his love. “The Sunny Day” he had christened his boat as he loaded it under a blue-grey sky up above.

The cooler was placed,the fishing gear too as he quickly untied the rope from the dock. Then he headed out for deeper water as he had done each and every morning at
five o’clock.

The vessel was a sturdy one as it glided over wave after wave. The grizzled skipper rubbed his chin and bellowed over his lack of a shave.

Behind the wheel he stood tall and brave with nothing more on his mind.
Than to find his favorite fishing hole where he had spent most of his time.

Further out he drove the boat as the sun grew increasingly hot.
Then quickly shut off the engine as he recognized his familiar spot.

The birds that flew all around him now suddenly dove into the sea.
As schools and schools of fish swam under the boat in a futile attempt to flee.

The old man’s pulse always raced a little faster whenever he would see this frenzy take place.
So he hurriedly yanked at his pole setting the hook in the bottom of the boat in his haste.

“Dag nabbit” he chortled as he realized his error and watched as the birds continued to feed.
He pulled again only harder this time freeing the hook from the wood while reaching for the bait he would need.

Soon he was catching them one after another putting only the biggest and finest in his live well.
And then at days end he would lug them to the fish market so the owner would have them to sell.

But on his next cast his life as he knew it would change in a rather big way.
The trophy sized fish which he had just landed it seemed had something to say.

‘”I’ll grant you one wish” said the over-sized fish “if one wish is all you’ll heed.
“What’s in it for me”? said the wily old man “you seem to be the one in need”.

And with that conclusion he tossed the big fish in the cooler to sell like he had all the rest.
He fired up his engine, headed for shore convinced that this day had been his very best.

“You see it’s not every day that a fish like me passes your way” said a voice from deep in the well.
“Pipe down you over-scaled lunker of mine ” as the skipper reached up and yanked on his bell.

But while on the way back the old man looked down and saw that water was quickly coming inside.
It seemed the hook that was stuck in the boat was the reason “The Sunny Day” would capsize.

The old man struggled to stay afloat because of his reluctance to learn how to swim.
And as he dropped to the bottom of the sea he watched the big fish wink and swim right past him.

Humorous moral of the story:
If your niche is to ignore one’s wish … you may end up the fish on a dish.

Serious moral of the story:
If we ignore those around us who are in need we may soon end up there ourselves.

Robert J. Ottaviani (Bert) is a cusp born Aries the ram who has lived through summer of love in the late sixties and the hippie culture that bled into the seventies. He has a passion for music, gardening and all things nature … and laffy taffy. He is freakishly aware of music trivia to absurd levels. Most days you can find him playing his guitar or jotting down lyrics. He was so impacted from the moment he first heard
the Beatles that he has Beatlemanianized his life,been to Liverpool, England and remains convinced he is the fifth Beatle. He is married to a gentle and lovely vibe of a woman with three wonderful children. He currently lives and resides in strawberry fields forever.