Anglers at Dromod

Anglers sit all day
gazing into dark water.
In front of them, a thin
rod lies gently flopping
on the cold river where
they wait for fish
to bite worms on  the
ends of sharp hooks.

Hours pass before rods
are hauled from dark
depths of wavey water
changing colour as blood
flows from scars, where
embedded hooks distort
the jaws of shiny fish.

After weighting, the net
is emptied and fish swim
back into the river,
with broken wounds.
Hidden among the reeds
fishermen, wearing
green wax coats, blend
into the landscape.