It was three o’clock and a stinking, hot afternoon.
I simply had not been feeling like myself that day.
The scorching sun had been shining brilliantly since noon.
Its rays were penetrating the windows in a way
.
That it really felt as though it was my friend, the moon,
Beaming down from a cluster of twinkling stars above
As I instructed the little charges in my room
And imagined that keen fisherman that I did love
.
Perched on the river bank close to the mouth of the Tweed
Under the shade of a giant eucalyptus tree.
Tumbulgum was where the eels constantly came to feed
When coming out of the ocean from a breeding spree.
.
He had taken all the pilchards that he thought he’d need
In at least two bait boxes or, perhaps, it was three.
He had often made promises that he would succeed
In catching enough eels for supper to feed us three.
.
He’d also mentioned that any old bait would have done,
Like the innards and backbones of fish or chicken guts,
Provided they had not gone rotten in the hot sun
And still smelled fresh enough; they’d surely drive the eels nuts.
.
The more I thought about what a hot day it had been
And while I was trying to get the students ready,
My reflection in the glass looked suspiciously green,
My stomach churned, my head ached, my hands were unsteady.
.
Just the thought of eating a slimy, green eel . . . Oh no!
I did not like the idea of disappointing him
And he would bring them home alive in a pail to show
What a catch he had made and how well those eels could swim.
.
I tried to see all thirty students onto the bus
As quickly as possible after ringing the bell.
The children were well behaved, with no signs of fuss
But I felt dizzy, about to have a fainting spell.
.
I managed to finish off all the students’ marking
But, as I waited for my husband to pick me up
And no sooner than he arrived and began parking,
Did I become so queasy that I thought I’d throw up.
.
As we drove home he was very quiet in the car.
I thought that he probably hadn’t had too much luck.
When we arrived at the house which was not very far
I left him to unload and pack the gear in his truck.
.
I was busily unpacking my homework from school
And he began to organize our evening meal.
It worked very well that way in our house as a rule
And I thought it was best not to mention the word “eel.”
.
It wasn’t long till he announced, “Dinner’s in the sink.”
Yikes! I still vividly recall how those eels did stink.
Then I dashed to the bathroom where I heaved and I heaved.
He felt sorry for me but I could see he was peeved.
