Phil Salmon Poet Narrative

Odyssey From Africa 1a

Chapter 1 THE FISHERMAN

At the dawn of humankind in
Africa's great land of sunlight
This adventure of survival 
Of a family's arduous journey 
 
One of exile and betrayal
And of hopeful brave endurance 
Happened long before all memory
Only scattered bones bear witness
 
Mighty ice-sheets of the Arctic
Would again repeat their south-march
Hold the world in age-long winter
Then retreat to warming sunshine
 
All between this ancient voyage
And the present time of writing 
Days of our long distant fathers 
Few in number were the people
 
Somewhere on the south-east seaboard 
Was a modest fishing village
Where a hundred families prized their
Living from the restless ocean
 
Here lived Han with his wife Kwona
Their son Matto, daughter Lisa
Twins of near a dozen summers 
Old enough to help their parents
 
Lisa watched her mother's fingers
Make, like magic, food and clothing
Matto learned beside his father
As a fisherman's apprentice
 
Out of all the village menfolk
Han had knowledge far surpassing
All the others in the mysteries
Of the sea and sky and fishes
 
Thus when Han set sail with Matto
Other boats would launch soon after
Trying secretly to follow
Like a shadow after wisdom
 
There arose a time of hardship
Scarcity had come among them
As the currents of the ocean
Changed their rhythm and their courses
 
Boats returning to the beach had
Only few and tiny fishes
Hunger stalked the little village
Fear was seen on people's faces
 
Han prepared his boat with Matto
For their longest ocean journey 
Packed equipment and provisions 
And a cover from the weather 
 
First they battled through the breakers
Then they rode a surging spring-tide
On an ocean that seemed hostile 
Till at last they cleared the shallows
 
Striking offshore from the coastline
Green sea changed to deep blue ocean
Land was lost to sight behind them;
Han surveyed the vast horizon 
 
Till, far off, he saw a crowd of
Seabirds diving in the water
Quickly Han and Matto paddled
Over to the seething tumult
 
Sardine shoals were being chased by 
Albacore and blue-fin tuna
Soon their net was tugged so strongly
That their boat was near turned over
 
Son and father, muscles straining,
Filled their boat with silver fishes
Made them fast, then turning homeward
Journeyed back in happy spirits

On return they brought the fishes
To their family and their neighbors 
News of their great catch spread quickly 
People came from all directions

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment