Page 89 - English Expedition Class 2

13 The Fisherman

How much time do you think people spend on doing their jobs? Do you think one’s profession

can have a big influence on one’s life? Would it affect one’s thoughts and ideas?
A fisherman is a person who catches fish and other water creatures from a waterbody like
a river, lake or sea. Have you ever thought about what the life of a fisherman would be like?

The fisherman goes out at dawn
1
When everyone’s abed ,
And from the bottom of the sea
2
Draws up his daily bread .
His life is strange; half on the shore

And half upon the sea –
Not quite a fish and yet not quite
The same as you and me.

The fisherman has curious eyes;
3
They make you feel so queer ,
4
As if they had seen many things

Of wonder and of fear.

5
They’re like the sea on foggy days, –
Not grey, nor yet quite blue;
6
They’re like the wondrous tales he tells
Not quite – yet maybe – true.

7
He knows so much of boats and tides ,
Of winds and clouds and sky!
But when I tell of city things,
8
He sniffs and shuts one eye!
Abbie Farwell Brown

1 abed: in bed; asleep 5 foggy: full of fog; not clear
2 daily bread: money or food that one needs to live 6 wondrous: amazing
3 curious: (here) unusual 7 tide: wave in the sea
4 queer: strange 8 sniff s: (here) breathes loudly to show dislike
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