with apologies to Hemingway

Beyond the frippery and folderol

of bishops and the like,

Father Murphy’s on vacation

with just a week to cast 

for bigger fish than pike.

And so he sails the peaceful bay

casting every kind of bait,

praying that a tarpon

suddenly will strike.

Hook the big one, Father claims,

and it will thrash around

as if Satan were a submarine

cruising in its wake.

A fish that big, claims Father,

is always worth the wait 

for it guarantees an aging priest,

with just a week’s vacation,

action and distraction from 

the frippery and folderol

of bishops and the like.

— Donal Mahoney