Todd Duncan Tennyson
Well-known member
there is a space between here and there
on the big river
she is long and mean
a beautiful placid august evening
a terrible january
all souls lost
if your boat doesn't pass you backwards
as you swoop long
winding frozen bridges
you'll get to the launch
God willing
people from other places will ask you
"why the hell you put studs on your trailer tires?"
just look at them and wish them a good day
they will never understand
at 0400hrs
you might not be able to see any lights
we were always in a hurry then
maybe i missed out on more important stuff
the chit chat
the camaraderie
by not taking more time
mother nature is fickle
and the clouds and winds will flat out punish you
you may be in thick fog
you may have engine troubles
you may have a drunken buddy running the lights
still lit up
from the last night
You may stall out crossing the channel
and have to listen to the big diesels that you can not see
huge roaring ships
as they telegraph through the hull of your little craft
as you bob like a cork in a washing machine
truly afraid
in real fear
i made that run hundreds of times
we busted out after putting on our gear and getting the dogs settled
but once you leave that single light on the shore
the only point of reference
the river eats men
The big river is hungry
and will kill you
anytime she wants you
her nature
doesn't make her bad
she's got her job to do
the river is big
it is old
i love her
i fear her
she is wonderful
terrible
& heartless
as terrifying as ice cold water in your waders pulling you under
& it gets dark pretty quick as your gear pulls you below
i reckon she has an ounce of forgiveness
& she might just give you a shot
one day
If you should be in that real space
between here and there
on the big river
on the big river
she is long and mean
a beautiful placid august evening
a terrible january
all souls lost
if your boat doesn't pass you backwards
as you swoop long
winding frozen bridges
you'll get to the launch
God willing
people from other places will ask you
"why the hell you put studs on your trailer tires?"
just look at them and wish them a good day
they will never understand
at 0400hrs
you might not be able to see any lights
we were always in a hurry then
maybe i missed out on more important stuff
the chit chat
the camaraderie
by not taking more time
mother nature is fickle
and the clouds and winds will flat out punish you
you may be in thick fog
you may have engine troubles
you may have a drunken buddy running the lights
still lit up
from the last night
You may stall out crossing the channel
and have to listen to the big diesels that you can not see
huge roaring ships
as they telegraph through the hull of your little craft
as you bob like a cork in a washing machine
truly afraid
in real fear
i made that run hundreds of times
we busted out after putting on our gear and getting the dogs settled
but once you leave that single light on the shore
the only point of reference
the river eats men
The big river is hungry
and will kill you
anytime she wants you
her nature
doesn't make her bad
she's got her job to do
the river is big
it is old
i love her
i fear her
she is wonderful
terrible
& heartless
as terrifying as ice cold water in your waders pulling you under
& it gets dark pretty quick as your gear pulls you below
i reckon she has an ounce of forgiveness
& she might just give you a shot
one day
If you should be in that real space
between here and there
on the big river