TIME TO FISH

WHERE EAGLES AND OSPREY SOAR

The Eagle and Osprey renew their call,

It’s time to fish. Come one and all!

Graham’s Magic Painting Challenge of months ago,

Became today’s path as my thoughts ebb and flow.

---

---

Colors, shapes, how do I feel?

New call to fish makes my painting more real.

Images, recollections come flooding in.

Filling my heart, warmth from within,

---

---

Safe, content, loved and free.

Deep connections with Eagles, Mom, Dad and me.

Our canvas canoe, painted glacial green,

Strong oak structure varnished to a gleam.

---

---

Dad astern, me midship, and Mom leads at the bow,

Each donned our brimmed hat atilt, just so, to shade our brow.

We seek places where Eagle and Osprey fish.

Our Creator’s sign of abundance, His grace and gift.

---

---

Raptors soar, circle, dive from a great height,

Fish in their talons soon give up the fight.

Time to cast and trail a line from my rod.

To entice Kokanee, my ‘Skinny Minny’ jig does the job.

---

---

Clear, cool, calm deep lake,

Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir guard at land’s gate.

Great granite cliffs with sparkling quartz,

Hidden beaches to picnic and to explore.

---

---

Silent while fishing, now heading home,

Favorite seafaring songs set a joyful tone.

We return to camp with riches and tales.

Plenty of fish for the fire, after gutting, cleaning scales.

---

---

Should have seen the big one that got away.

And ancient Salish Kekule dwellings, dug deep in the clay.

Most treasured of all, the memories of love.

At the Creator’s special place where Eagles circle above.

++++++++++++

For the story behind my poem please enjoy my video:

Time to Fish - Where Eagles and Osprey Soar

Music on video composed and performed by Benjamin Howells.
Painting on video by Benjamin Howells.
++++++++++++

Karen Howells

Opus 6, July 12, 2023

Calgary AB

Written for Graham Wardle's writing challenge: Time to Fish, posted on his Time Has Come private Mighty Works network.

Reposted on Substack for December 2025 TuesdayCreations theme, “Things that Fly”

(Screenshot from Ellison Park Website)

Ben's painting of my Time To Fish poem.

The cove beside the cliff where we would fish shown in 1938. Unfortunately the Pilot House was not preserved before the land was sold to government for a park.

The cliff is out of the photo to the left. About 200 yards beyond the shore are two ancient Salish Kekule (indigenous pit dwelling and pit food storage).