A feller isn't thinkin' mean, Out fishin'; His thoughts are mostly good an' clean, Out fishin'. He doesn't knock his fellow men, Or harbor any grudges then; A feller's at his finest when Out fishin'. The rich are comrades to the poor, Out fishin'; All brothers of a common lure, Out fishin'. The urchin with the pin an' string Can chum with millionaire an' king; Vain pride is a forgotten thing, Out fishin'. A feller gits a chance to dream, Out fishin'; He learns the beauties of a stream, Out fishin'; An' he can wash his soul in air That isn't foul with selfish care, An' relish plain and simple fare, Out fishin'. A feller has no time fer hate, Out fishin'; He isn't eager to be great, Out fishin'. He isn't thinkin' thoughts of pelf, Or goods stacked high upon a shelf, But he is always just himself, Out fishin'. A feller's glad to be a friend, Out fishin'; A helpin' hand he'll always lend, Out fishin'. The brotherhood of rod an' line An' sky and stream is always fine; Men come real close to God's design, Out fishin'. A feller isn't plotting schemes, Out fishin'; He's only busy with his dreams, Out fishin'. His livery is a coat of tan, His creed -- to do the best he can; A feller's always mostly man, Out fishin'. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VICKSBURG by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE JOSEPH'S COAT by GEORGE HERBERT ILLUSIONS by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON THE SWISS EMIGRANT by LUCY AIKEN HOMAGE TO QUINTUS SEPTIMIUS FLORENTIS CHRISTIANUS (2) by ANYTE HEART'S EASE by MATHILDE BLIND |