Apology to a Fish, or, She Speaks

A companion to Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey’s “Love, that Doth Reign and Live within My Thought”

Glimpsed I your flashing fin and silvered cheek Amid the quiet pool of water clear, A lovely, living light within the creek. Yet death I threw to you who I revere. No thought had I before I tossed my line But how my subtle cast deceive you might. Yet now your lively play upon the twine, O, would that from my fly you’d turned in flight. My hidden hook empierc’d your jaw of gold, And dragged you thrashing cross the mirrored still; My brutal hand your gentle form did hold, And felt your tremb’ling frame and gasping gill. I’m sorry, I cried, and plucked the barbéd hook, And joyful splash, you fled across the brook.