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Thursday 3 September 2015

Fishing Derby Revisited

It is Labour Day weekend again and the fishing derby in on at Placentia Junction in Newfoundland. The Prettys, Frank and Michele, are holding the derby in memory of Jack and Mary Taylor, Michele's parents. The Taylors loved the Junction and their cabin life there.

     Derby Central, Pretty's Cabin

Again this year, family, friends and other interested people will spend the weekend in pursuit of that "big one." Everyone will get a prize but the most sought after prizes are monetary, derived from entry fees, with the biggest prize for the biggest fish. Weather will not matter to the ardent fishers as streams and ponds are fished with enthusiasm.

       Michele At Derby 2014

The Prettys say that this is the last year that the derby will be open to the general public. Future derbys will be family affairs, as in the days of Jack and Mary, when the final long weekend of the summer brought many family members to the cabin. Family meant everything to the Taylors and they treasured any time they had with each of the children and grandchildren. 

I wrote this poem about the derby in honor of Jack and Mary Taylor.

              Derby Time

It is that time of year again
When efforts start anew.
All hands want to catch a fish,
The biggest one, 'tis true.

The Taylors are all ready,
But trout are hid away.
I swear they were alerted...
As in the mud they stay.

The weather is a factor,
It always plays a part.
The time can be a misery,
Or one to warm the heart.

Fun is what some call it 
To stand and cast a line.
For others it is torture
Even when it's fine.

So the moral of the story,
Irrespective of the weather...
The Taylors are all happy
Just because they get together.
                    Marie Pretty Smith

Michele and Frank, congratulations on fifteen years of hard work organizing and running the derby. Enjoy the weekend Taylor family and good luck everyone.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Loved the poem! Your sister-in-law shold have this framed and mounted on the cabin wall!!

Marie Smith said...

Glad you liked it. It was fun to write.