abalone fishing
by Ed Higgins
abalone fishing
after several beers this woman told me once
(when I was maybe 15)
while we were waist deep
in cold Pacific tidewater
having a baby was
(well) like shitting a football
whoa (I said), noooooo shit!!
amazed, as I slid my pry bar carefully
under an abalone foot
as close to the encrusted rock as
possible, so as not to injure
the vulnerable creature which
has no blood clotting capabilities
which experiences no surprise
lifting it slowly to pop loose.
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Author's Note
An older woman (50ish at the time) family friend when I was an early teen would take me abalone fishing. In the course of casual conversation once I asked her the question in the poem & received her startling gender-specific reply. The poem‘s been recently published:
Good imagery in this piece, Ed-- especially in the second half. Nice read.
I felt the chill of the Pacific ocean as I read this. I spent much time fishing for abalone off Dana Point when I was a teenager but not with anyone as cool as this woman fishing buddy of yours.
Thanks for the memories, Ed!
Ed, the title of this caught my eye because I live in Mendocino County, a popular ab diving area. This sounds exactly like what one of the local redneck women might say to shock a young kid for fun after a few beers, but she's just pulling your leg. I enjoyed this one.