River Pike, May 2021

It was a special invitation

that day on the York River

In a flat bottom aluminium boat

with father and grandfather

A young girl of 8 or 9

A highlight of her young life

And sure enough

a moment of pride

to reel in

a pike

Destined to be a delicious meal

the dinner hero

brought her fish

Back to the family trailer

to be prepared

and dished

But instead of feeding her loved ones

It became a tasty treat

for a wild stranger of the park

who left the bag behind

up in a tree

Yet still those feelings of acceptance

and of a wondrous belonging that was new

will always live in memory

along Highway 62