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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

3 Flies & A Feather ... And A Poem?

Three Flies And A Feather - or to be more specific two soft hackles, an egg patterned fly and a molted feather.  This 8in x 8in watercolor was done just to pass the time and to keep me working on my skills as a painter.  Its the first feather I've done but I think it turned out ok.
Its too bad that the cell phone pic doesn't really do it justice but you get the idea.
 I also was doing a bit of reading the other day and came across a poem that some of you might like.  Now I know what some of you are thinking and rest assured that poetry is not a favorite of mine.  The closest I have ever come to poetry is and an occasional Walt Whitman verse which I struggle to get through or perhaps an alcohol inspired and slightly more risqué poem about the Lady from Nantucket, but this one struck a cord and I thought that it just might with you.
It comes from a 1889 Denver Colorado publication of Sport Afield - a magazine that has been providing quality outdoor sports writing for over one hundred years.  This one is titled:

The Whole Story     by Dan De Foe

The fluttering fly Is tossed on high,
And lightly on the pool descends.
In shade of ash, A flash, a splash
The reel responds, the bamboo bends.

With twitch and twirl, And swish and swirl,
The ripples wide and wider whirl -
Speeding, receding, The line scarcely heeding;
'Mid boulders and eddies, A frantic chase leading -
The prize contends, Retreats, defends -
Aha-he's done-he scarcely bends The yielding cane;
His struggles wane-
The net! and lo, the conflict ends.

Even an angler that has never read a line of poetry in his life can attest to the moving quality of that work.  Enjoy your remainder of the week.

3 comments:

  1. Great piece really like the feather. I just tied some soft hackles just like those!

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  2. Great picture - like the feather. Hey, the newest thing out here is women buying flys for their hair. Just another outlet for those flys.

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  3. Another awesome piece Joel. Just plain amazing.

    Keep them coming and thanks for sharing the poem.

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