POEM - Hook and Water

The stream of liquid crystal

Flowed coolly over shimmering pebbles

As rusty brown creatures emerged

From submerged overhangs

In days to come

After sparklers burned to char

All the fun of fireworks

Faded slowly

From bright flash

            To burned retinal residue

                        To darkened closed eyes

I returned to the stream

Like a fish to water

But this fish had claws

Or hooks rather

The repurposed spent sparklers

Held the right combination

Of plastic cheese and bologna

To draw out the crawfish

Each simply held tight to the hook

Then were drawn from the water

And dropped into the waiting bucket

Unceremoniously imprisoned

In the back yard they sat

In full sun

In the tall bucket

By the time dad was home

As I hurriedly showed him the bucket

I learned the effects of full sun

On aquatic freshwater crustaceans

The crystal water shimmered

My return a peaceful one

Alongside the bank

Only a watcher now

Crawfish emerge

Walking in a funeral march

For their fallen brothers

Who took the easy route