“The Fish,” by Elizabeth Bishop
September 2, 2010
This one is rainbow, rainbow, rainbow! And I let the fish go.
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Bishop’s poem is in her Complete Poems, 1927-1979
6 Comments
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Belly up, it's A Poetry Feed. 
It must be nice to catch a fish worth letting go!
No kidding, At McDonalds yesterday, there was a full table of older men and a few women. One of the men was telling a big fish story. I couldn’t hear well (and I tried not to listen), but as he talked, others were laughing and confirming his story. They were sitting around Mcbreakfast wrappers and drinking coffee, but I wondered if they would have rather been fishing or at least floating.
I love the respect she gave this fish with her words.
I like EB a lot, but I hadn’t come across this one before. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Best,
Bear
Respect for sure! From that first great word choice, “tremendous” (what a ruinous decision it would have been to say, say, “awful” or “ginormous” or “whopper”!) and that “five-haired beard of wisdom,” to that last decisive action, letting it go.
This is often a poem I think of when I start to wonder if paying quiet, sure attention to ordinary things can pay off for a writer. Or anyone, for that matter.
Cheers, KP
Wonderful reading! The poet delves into the being of the fish, and upon close investigation discovers its essence. In the end survival is granted. Inddeed, a great poet!
This is awesome! The way he read it is amazing!
I appreciate that, Samantha, thanks! It’s a poem with such sure, sharp images and clear language that I think it would make anyone reading it seem sure and sharp and clear, too. 🙂
KP