For Larry, Fisherman and Poet I note that his poetry often speaks of fishing, And in our meetings in the halls Or quiet office chats, He often turns the conversations to fishing. I think, then, of Jung And imagine a clear, round pool, A young boy, eight or ten, Sitting quietly in the pure Ozarks afternoon Imagining the silvery trophy bass he’ll catch, Or perhaps even the fairy-tale fish That will grant him three wishes for its freedom. I can’t help but wonder what it is this tortured Veteran of the Vietnam War, This poet-souled fisherman, Fishes for. But I suspect that it has to do with Rebirth Regeneration Reconciliation Re-integration Much more than it has to do with Fish.