catch and release

we used to fish
down by the bridge, close
to blue plains.
when the herring were
running we
snagged them with three
tiered hooks,
blood worms
for cat
fish, and perch.
the golden grail
of enormous carp,
the rare rock fish that wandered
into the cove
where we sat
on rocks in the warm
summer months of 67.
it was catch and release
back then
as young boys yet to
make mistakes,
or do anything
with our lives
that we would regret.
unlike how it is now,
once more,
once again. catch
and release.