Old Woodbury — Young Woodbury


For Woodie
I can’t send a message directly
having half-finished
a goodly sum of halibut
not caught off Metinic
directed to finish by old Woodbury
do you realize the need
in bait, line and hook
let alone the strength
not just the grand sweetness
in past years the strong white flesh
at 7,000 pounds could kill a man
flapping in the dory bottom
specially designed schooners
to get the catch
to Boston, New York
at the height of freshness
iced in, layered in
the catch made the most of
no sloughing off
all the fishermen
paying attention to
the crew fed up with the best
no limits, no shame
all the seamen
headed for shore
to the best restaurants
such as the Parker House
prime fish, prime rolls, prime desserts
for 150 years
I wrote a poem for the manager
he delivered Strawberry tuxedoes to the room
the height of reward
brought by the strength of halibut
Kendall Merriam, Home, 9:31 6/18/ 2021
Listening to silence
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United States