The Fisherman Ll Poem by Morgan Michaels

Annoyed, Skipper identified his prey as a shark, which sells for nothing. Swearing out loud, he reeled the fish in- there was little else to do, and as the feisty creature neared the rail, he picked up a bat to prevent it from lashing back. Soon the shark was pummeling the deck unpleasantly. Raising the bat to deliver it the coup de grace, Skipper was surprised to hear it say,

'Wait. Don't. Stop. Let me go!

Catching many sharks, Skipper had never heard one talk back.

'This one talks', he thought, but he made no bad puns about school and higher education, but resolved to hear it out and said,

'So, where did you learn English? '.

'In school.Just don't hurt me. Let me go'.

'Funny, coming from a shark', he replied, but he dropped the bat. which clattered on the deck.

'Do you enjoy speaking English'? he asked.

'It's ok; worse than French, better than Dutch', replied the shark.

'Claro', said Skipper and continued.

'What kind of shark are you'?

He hoped the answer would clarify the shark's preference for French over English.

If the shark was tempted to say 'an over-educated one', it didn't, saying instead:

'A Great White, thanks', grimacing in proof.

'Gee, we don't see many Great Whites in these waters', said the fisherman, impressed.

That doesn't surprise me', said the shark, it's a little chilly up here.

'What'?

'Nothing'!

'Well, its nice we can talk, said Skipper, to which the shark replied 'yes, it helps'.

'What else can you do'? , asked Skipper.

'I...can juggle:


Skipper, doubted this, but studied the shark.....