The Old Padre And The Tarpon Poem by Donal Mahoney

The Old Padre And The Tarpon



with apologies to Hemingway

Beyond the frippery and folderol
of bishops and the like,
Father Murphy's on vacation
with just a week to cast
for bigger fish than pike.

And so he sails the peaceful bay
casting every kind of bait,
praying that a tarpon
suddenly will strike.
Hook the big one, Father claims,

and it will thrash around
as if Satan were a submarine
cruising in its wake.
A fish that big, claims Father,
is always worth the wait

for it guarantees an aging priest,
with just a week's vacation,
action and distraction from
the frippery and folderol
of bishops and the like.

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