"Mr. Ramsay"

Just last week he told me about the first big fish
he caught with you, from your boat
on Kootenay Lake.

About how you figured he was old enough to go
about how he got seasick
about how he laid on the shore long
enough to let the seasickness pass
so that you could catch a good picture
of the lad
with his first huge fish.

And he went out with you
again and again
in spite of the black smoke of the heater
and the smell of blackened bread from your cheese sandwiches.

To be with you
and catch fish
and be seasick
again and again
just to be with you.


Beth McCarthy Marks
2004
At the passing of Mike Ramsay's dad