Wise Old Fred

The tide was turning to go out
when old Fred Cod met Tillie Trout,
and Tillie said, "I hear it's feared
that Sammy Salmon's disappeared."

"It really makes my blood run hot,
wondering if the poor things got
himself into that horrid air,
that human beings breathe up there."

She heaved her gills in agitation,
"It defies imagination,
HOW COULD he vanish just like that,
when all he did was chase a sprat?"

She twitched a cross, impatient tail
and paused to scratch an itchy scale
against a nearby favorite rock,
as though to rub away the shock.

She made a vicious, angry snap
at a passing silver sprat,
and in a flash, as quick as light,
she was whisked right out of sight.

Ah well, thought Fred, she asked for trouble,
and blew an iridescent bubble.
Guess I was a mite too late
to tell her it was fishing bait.

Always was a nosy fish
and now she knows where Sammy is.
This old cod won't spring THAT trap,
I'm far too old and wise for that.

And with that thought he gently sighed,
content in inward mental pride.
Never even saw the shark,
until quite suddenly - it was dark.