Iron Caught in Hard Scales

"Don't you think," said the fish to the hook,

"that you should clean yourself off a bit before

you try to get at me like this?"

"Why," replied the iron, "so I told the worm!"

Looking close, the fish gave heed to conversation

and the fisherman, who felt the tug, drew up the line

and saw the scales writhe rhythmically,

pierced through the outskirts of one eye in agony.

Hooks have never caught in fleeing tails,

only in chatty lips that know not when to still themselves and run.

Did Christ say we should reason our temptations to the ground,

build up our good defenses,

or swim off quickly, leaving nothing in the water

to be caught and fried in butter, smooth as silk?

The courageous man seeks peace for himself

at the ultimately very low expense of all his pride.