Longing For a Lunker

Longing for a Lunker

When I was but a lad
Butch and I would fish.
In any stream or river
To catch a “lunker” was our wish.

As we reached our teens
Our angling skills we honed.
But still our quest eluded us
We bought our big fish boned.

When we were at the river’s edge
Small shop’s, the bank would line
For they knew where the lunkers lived
Caught and smoked them up just fine

But alas, graduation came and went
We parted ways to never meet.
Butch taught biology to kids
We both found wives so sweet. 

I only hear from him at Christmas
And oft a card without a note.
I wonder as the years went by
If he ever over- filled his boat.

I’m probably too feeble now
To land a lunker if one would bite.
But I still hold onto my dream
Of that exhausting, fun-filled fight. 

Do you have something?
That lingering wish.
To run a marathon race
Or bake someone their favorite dish.

Don’t give up that dream
Wish on my aging friend
It may eventually happen
During our time at Heaven’s end. 

For that may be what heaven is
A time of praise & worship of our King
But also time then set-aside
To pet our dogs and for other things. 


Written by oldbuck, May 10, 2016 as he thought about days gone by and opportunities missed.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2016


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Date: 3/28/2017 7:40:00 AM
I love fishing! So this poem really speaks to me, but for more reasons than just that. "Do you have something? That lingering wish", I've tried often and hard to learn the guitar like my father. He retires in a few years and I'd love more than anything to sit on his porch and pick at strings with him. This poem is thought-invoking, brilliant. Thank you for sharing this gem. a 7 from me.
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Buck Avatar
Old Buck
Date: 3/28/2017 1:56:00 PM
Jesse: My dad went to war when I was about 4. Came back in a couple years, learned to fly a small plane and crashed in 1947. I was by now about 6. I remember his banjo picking and always swore I'd learn to play so we could do some numbers together when we meet. I've never done that so I pleases me that I will be able to hear Jesse and his dad strum a bit for us, years from now. :o) Thanks again for your thoughtful comments. oldbuck
Date: 5/16/2016 3:50:00 AM
As a keen fisherman, I enjoyed this poem Buck. Upbeat with a good message at the end. Cheers for sharing.
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Buck Avatar
Old Buck
Date: 5/16/2016 3:32:00 PM
Craig: Thank you for that "keen" comment. It's always fun to hear something you have done has been enjoyed. I'm off now to read some "Sharman". Probably no relation to the "tissue" folks. :o) oldbuck
Date: 5/10/2016 2:15:00 PM
I love fishing for that lunker too Buck. It has eluded many a fisherman. It is never to late to reach for your dreams.
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Buck Avatar
Old Buck
Date: 5/16/2016 3:28:00 PM
Tim: Thank you for your comment and words of encouragement but Alas, I fear my fishing days have past. :o) oldbuck
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