Poor Little Fish was overwrought, disconsolate and sore;
He'd seen the sleekest, fattest worm, like none he'd seen before.
He swam towards it, jaws agape, and quickly took a bite,
But to his horror he was hooked, the barb embedded tight!

He thrashed and twisted, all in vain, quite soon he gasped for breath,
And he was sure his fate was sealed; that soon he'd meet his death!
He hung there in the open air, the water far below.
His whole life sped before his eyes, more joys he'd never know.

And then he felt his body grasped in firm, unyielding grip.
"This is the end!" he told himself, "This is my final trip!"
A booming voice from near at hand said, "This one's much too small."
"I'll bait the hook and throw this back for it's no good at all."

And now he felt that hurtful hook pulled sharply from his jaw.
He felt the fingers holding it flex gently and withdraw.
The hook was gone, though pain remained and he was still held firm,
Regretting that he'd ever tried to take that fateful worm.

The hand was plunged into the stream, the fingers loosed their hold,
And Little Fish took grateful gulps of water clean and cold.
He flexed his fins and shook his tail and swam between the reeds,
Then rested as he gathered strength amongst the waving weeds.

Big Fish was just a bully, he tormented smaller fry!
He nipped at fins and waving tails as they went swimming by.
He stole their tasty grubs and bugs whenever they came near;
He mocked them when they hid from him and reveled in their fear.

He chanced upon poor Little Fish, still nursing his sore lips
And right away he started in with nudges and with nips.
But Little Fish was not amused, he hid inside a crack
And waited in the crack a while in case Big Fish came back.

And then the quiet silvery sky was filled with rippling rings,
Distracting Big Fish from his chase with thoughts of better things.
And from the center of the rings a juicy worm was seen,
The most delicious, squirming worm that there had ever been!

"It's mine!" cried Big Fish greedily and swam towards his prey,
Intent on feasting all alone; this was his lucky day!
"Be careful!" shouted Little Fish, "That worm conceals a trap!"
But Big Fish laughed at Little Fish. His jaws closed with a snap.

He'd barely tasted his prize catch before he felt the hook.
The pain assailed him, nose to tail, he trembled and he shook,
But though he tried to spit it out, the hook remained in tight,
And now the bully of the stream full realized his plight!

He threw his body side to side, he fought with all his might,
But deeper went the dreadful hook the harder he did fight.
The line grew taught and drew him up and up what e'er he'd try
Until his tail-tip disappeared, right through the mirrored sky.

Then Little Fish let out a sigh, both jubilant and sad!
He felt some pity for Big Fish but inwardly was glad!
He thought that he and other fish were safe now from attack,
For he was sure that bigger fish would never be thrown back.

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