TEACHING TWO LESSONS
Sitting by the river watching it flow gently by,
There by grandad’s side teaching me to tie a fly,
His gnarled hands working with great dexterity
As he patiently taught the dying craft to me.

Then, when all was ready the line left the reel,
Then it neared the water, excitement I could feel
As a rainbow trout leapt, was caught and reeled in,
Yet for me to eat it would be like committing a sin.

Grandad unhooked it, the colours so pretty to see,
“Shall we let it go again, or take it home for our tea.?
He saw the tear in my eyes and placed the fish back,
Held it until it wriggled, then of speed it had no lack.

Then we caught a large catfish, as ugly as can be,
“Shall we take this one home and have it for tea?”
I thought that this ugly thing did not deserve to live
Let us eat it, whatever beauty could this ugly thing give?

My grandad took me by the hand and was very wise,
“Beauty is different to some, it’s the beholders eyes,
Who are we to judge what should live or what should die,
Just because you find him not very pleasing to your eye.”

Grandad placed it in the water, I watched it swim away,
I had learned a great and important message that day,
Never again did I judge ugly things as being only bad,
Or beauty as being all good, that would make life so sad.

I’ll look at things and people, and the inside just see,
Never worry what they look like, they may see me as ugly,
So as long as I stay beautiful deep down within and let it shine,
I’ll be worthy of the blessings that always seem to be mine.

M Ann Margetson © September 28, 2001