Fly Fishing
by Holly Wiegand
“Let me show you how—
how to hold the pole:
here and here, your left on the line.
It’s a game: tease him, respect him.
Bring it back and fling it out, like a whip.
Slowly let out the slack, now
See how it extends?
Can you see it?
Listen to the river. Read its currents there.
One
Two
One
Two
Keep it level—not too close yet.
One
Two
One
Two
And one more
Release!
See how it sways on the surface?
Can you see it?
To the left of that big rock.
Draw in the slack a bit
Yes!
Can you see it?
Let it set for a bit, wiggle that fly.
Now, we can’t let them get smart, now,
So we do it again.
One
Two
One
Two
Now, you try.”
About the Author
Holly Wiegand is an English PhD candidate at Boston University. A Montana native, she enjoys kayaking, skiing, and discovering what it means to be human. Her poetry has previously appeared in DASH Literary Journal, Polaris Literary Magazine, and Peregrine Journal.