A Poem for 'Jeremy Fisher'

To A dear fishing buddy who recently shuffled off.

"How am I going to kick this horrible weed" ? He'd often ask, not really wanting to hear my answer; "Come down and see me, I'll do you for nothing, We'll find you something better to do instead" this would make him laugh one of his filthy 'Sid James' laughs, muttering something like " I bet we would, Tapping his Whisky flask in his hip pocket!..... Seems he's found his own thing to do instead....

Can you see them too

They hide underneath the mirror
they'll see you first .. can you see them too?
matching clothes to their homes they feel a heavy shoe
sliding away long before they'll give you a view,
for they see you first ..can you see them too?

They can hover motionless, invisible to the untrained eye
unleashing breathtaking power with ease they fly,
to the place where they hide in the mirrors side,
when disturbed by a hunter,feathered or furred,a man or a bird...
the largest of their kind are few ...can you see them too?

when the eye becomes skilled through watching and time,
or by the awesome wonder near, in the beauty of seeing
through the looking glass moving, of figures that ghostly appear,
at first maybe one but once seen they stand out,
the beautiful creature, spotted and stout,
but one false move, one glimpse, one clue,
with a flick they're gone ...can you see them too?

On learning their habits, their likes and their haunts
through the mirror you'll see them in crystal so pure
feeding at ease, their white gape they flaunt
stationary, to them comes their food or your lure,
but the story's not over yet, as they taunt,
for they know what is what and with consummate ease
they'll reject all that's not right as speedy as light,
and another dry net ,an empty belly too
they're really not daft...can you see them too?

but once every year an opportunity draws near
around May if you please when on one thing only they'll feed
the Mayfly, Hurrah, makes them bold, foolish, reckless no fear,
and then my friend you might get your chance to fulfill your need
to outwit this quick monarch behind the mirror
and if you can handle their power their speed

their uncanny ability to find buried weed
and if you appreciate how lucky you've been
and you'll give them their due
then the finest meal that God gave to you

will mean at last ...you'll see them.... and taste them too!