17 The Worm And The Angler Comments
THE WORM AND THE ANGLER
They (the fish) are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able.- Earnest Hemingway in 'Old Man and the Sea'.
When you picked me up from the dirt
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Killing animals for food, we are doing from time immemorial.We never think from the killed animals' perspective.Your narrative and empathy is really touching.It is a worthy read for all!
Every life-form on earth is part of the food chain, designed by(or evolved in) the nature. Right from planktons to whales. My poem is more about how man uses man (or women) as baits to trap and exploit others.
These are the words of My Favourite Poet Olga Tinina:
SOMEONE is looking for worms and provokes us like fish, luring us with the promise of a delicious dinner, we swallow the bait and then we are in captivity of their ambitions! and who is it? who can control us with the help of just worms, presenting to us that this is a delicacy!
This is the very first poem I published on PoemHunter
An interesting viewpoint. I have impaled many worms for fishing, but never heard one scream. They usually brought me good luck. Well done!
It is such an unusual poem, so beautifully expressed the pain of earthworm used as bait for fishing. I will come back to read it again.
A 'cross', a life, a fish....your verse is nourishing on so many levels.
Poet Amber Piercy has added this poem to her favourites. My gratitude to you, Amber
Thank You, Dillipji for adding the poem to your favourites
Life is just another tale By another name! Interesting poem, though tough on the fisherman.
It feels great to read your note. Thank You, dear poet
I am going to read all your older poetry until you return and bless us with your friendship and exotic writing
There is no one on PH who can write a better story in verse form. 10++++++++++ and onto fav list
Extremely Touching And Very Heart Felt! ! ! ! ! Ever So Excellently Done! ! ! ! ! Thank You Ever So Much For Sharing This! ! ! ! ! :) Ever So Many 10S! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! +++++
Thank you for writing this...it's homage to all those tiny creatures that we deem insignificant. This poem is beautiful and makes one contemplate that with everything there is two sides to a story :) 10 +++++×
Hi Frances, Thank you for reading this poem of mine. This is the first I posted on PH. One of my favorites. Although I was never interested in fishing, esp. with a hook, I had noticed that the earthworm used as bait was alive, even after the fish was removed from the hook. Thus, the idea just occurred that the worm too may have a story to tell. When I penned it down, it happened to be too metaphoric.. Thanks Frances. A 100+++ for your comment....
Ah, you have written an awesome poem here. Putting aside the metaphor aspect of this poem for a moment tells me it stands tall as an elegy for a worm writhing on a fish hook. I always hated that part of fishing- I was spared taking the fish off the hook and gutting it but my father insisted I put my own squirmy worm on my hook. I felt like the meanest, cruelest, most savage barbarian on earth putting a worm on the hook, piercing its body and it would squeal with its body. The life lesson we could learn from this is so varied and strong. So glad you posted this. and you get a big 10++++++
Hi Susie, I had not noticed that you have not read this poem. This was the first poem I posted on PH. And we got acquainted much later, so I missed to invite you to read this one. Now, your observations on it. So very deeply analytic. And, meanest, cruellest.....most savage barbarian... How did I read your mind! ! ! That too before even meeting you on ph. Of course, the experience the worm goes through while impaled on the hook is beyond words. And I have seen it still alive, even after the fish is removed from the hook (though fishing, especially by hook, is something I never liked.) Thank you Susie for all the appreciation. A word from a poet I adore like you, made my day. Thank you for all the appreciation and a Big Thank You, for that 10. Obliged.
Very profound thoughts expressed through a dying worm. Good poem. It is only very rarely we come across such good write (10) .
Hi Rajen, Thank you very much for bestowing your valuable time to read my poem and pen your comments of appreciation. They are precious for me. Thank you again.
And we are no better than that fish Who fell for that painful bait Fate dangles the hook for us And in agony we suffer and wait......... Great poem of yours sir, .....I invite you read my poetic attempts and comment please
Hi Krishna, I loved the way you have related the poem to contemporary plight of human race. Although, I did not have it in my mind when I wrote the poem, I tend to think of the people cheated by e-mails informing about lotteries won or similar on-line frauds too. I had written the poem as a metaphor for the state of women in a man's world. Your words add more insight into the poem. Thank you.
A bait! ! With the muse of the nature of things. Nice work.
You have summed up human life so wonderfully through this allegorical write. The exploitation of the weak by the powerful has been a reality of life through generations. I find this work very meaningful n very profound that deserves no less than 10.
Nosheen, Thank you very much for the generous words. Your comments reposes immense responsibility on me to live upto your words, if and when I write again. Thank you.
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7/18/2025 9:57:00 PM # 1.0.0
This poem transported me to the earthworm's point of view. We humans tend to escalate the means we use to gain advantage over other lives. Even among humans we see 'hooks' of increasing sophistication, deployed by the cunning towards the innocent. This calls for reflection and humility.
Very true, Denis. Human greed, cruelty and are unparalleled. Thank you for the comments