It was a draught of more than fishes' freight That wrestled with our rope.
Hand under hand We urged the live net leaping to the land Through shuddering currents of the early spate Up to the brindled shallows, intricate With lashing, lithe sea-silver; but the sand Saw not a beggar's handful of the band That warped our shoniders with their plunging weight.
How was it they escaped us? Lead and twine Will bring the eerie mullet from the brine Sooner than trap this water-witchery That slips the tarred mesh in the undertow,
When fishermen come laughing from the sea With more than cart and hamper ever show.