My breath like smoke
upon autumn's morn.
Into my boot chill water seeps,
the stream runs icy clear and deep.
He comes up swiftly, turns,
sees my fly and does reverse,
takes a pass and eyes the prize,
quickly I ****** back my line.
He is big and brown,
speckled and Steelhead sleek.
I cast again,
briefly let it float,
where he was
only a moment ago.
The silvers of his belly flash,
he rolls and rises
takes another look,
ever so sly and cautious,
or so he thinks.
Does this beauty not know,
I'm strictly Catch and Release?
My last outing, the stream
and he and me, perfectly symbiotic.
Briefly I touched his sleek body,
felt his power in my hands
then allowed him his freedom,
back into the depths of the stream
from whence he'd come.
For he and me,
a moment of elation shared.