Black Hole In the Creek
Oh yeah if you’re a fisherman,
and you’re rung up by a mate,
there’s always time to put down tools
with no need to contemplate,
‘cause fishing has that magic draw
to take you to your peak -
and evening is always best
to fish in the ‘Labi’ creek.
So ‘Stalky’ Bill knocks on my door
with his even thinner son -
by the time we reach the ‘Labi’ banks
the daylight’s nearly done.
And so the water’s looking black,
in the shallows and the holes,
where blackfish seek the bait we choose,
in their night time patrols.
Of course there is another bait
that goes with fishing too.
It comes in a flip top can.
(The bait’s a Carlton brew)
And if you drink too much of it
one’s actions become slow.
Thank God ‘Stalkys’ son don’t drink
or perhaps we’d never know
The rod was bouncing at its tip;
a sign to race the heart.
“We’ve got ourselves a ‘blackie”
Bill was slurring at the start.
He was yelling orders out to Paul
“For ‘chrissake’ use the net!”
As up and down the ‘blackie’ tore,
but he couldn’t land it yet.
Bill was straining as he lifted
his rod, then reeled the line.
The ‘blackie’ splashed and struggled
as Paul let the net incline.
“I’ve got him Dad!” He shouted;
then “Gawd!” I heard him speak.
This time the rod went with it
in the black hole of the creek.
“You useless flamin’ twit” Bill yelled.
Then he screamed out “Oh no!
Now me’ bloody rod’s gone in!
Right Son. Strip off and in you go”.
Paul’s protesting bought on anger.
(‘Twas from the beer Paul loathed)
Now he’s searching in the creek,
and he’s searching fully clothed.
“I’ve found it Dad” Paul passed the rod
back on the bank to ‘Stalky’ Bill,
who started winding in the line
before his high pitched shrill.
“He’s still there! He’s still hooked on.
This time don’t take a week”.
After thirty minutes in the dark -
lifted the ‘blackie’ from the creek.
“Strike me” I said “This blokes on fire,
he’s led youse everywhere”.
And even in the black of night,
I could see a covering of hair.
‘A covering of hair?’ I thought;
‘It ain’t the ‘blackie’ that we know’ -
After pulling out the damaged hook,
the platypus was free to go.
Copyright © Lindsay Laurie | Year Posted 2019
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