Poets write community poem titled 'Big Northern, Small Hook'

"Big Northern, Small Hook," is a community poem written by Crosby area poets Ed Dallas, Joan Prefontaine and Stu Tufford.

The words in bold were given to the poets by customers at Letty's Coffee, Gifts and Books shop in Crosby. A poem title is posted and customers are encouraged to add a word to the word list in order for the poets to create a poem.

Poetry readings are held from 7 to 8 p.m. the third Thursday of every month at Letty's.

"Big Northern, Small Hook"

Moving northward from the Cities, books say I've got to be more gregarious, worm my way into weedbeds of shallow conversation and lure even the lazy outside to take one small plunge into a choppy idea.

It won't be the first time that I've come-to sitting bent over in a land known better as Timbuktu.

But there's Ed with his once mobile house (the fat cold lips of metal seem scrawny in this wind-chilled air). It gave cover as I slid down past his ice house, one small stick of dynamite in hand, to blast a hole through indestructible ice.

While small fry could chop and dig and grind their way down, I wanted to surprise the slimy trout and bass and otherwise pursue one lunker northern -- even with my choice of lures.

Instead, what came my way was the loss of one mitten and a time to meet neighbors as they jumped in to help rescue me from pond; thanks to an eye from shore watching my would-be adventure.

Was it big northern and small hook? I can't remember for sure; but I can tell you this: Sometimes the best hooks are the grappling kind ...