Bullhead

Dan MacIsaac

From murky water

between tarred pilings,

through a dark

labyrinth of currents,

the bullhead sculpin

spirals to lush bait

torn from the mussel’s

gunmetal shell,

ripe flesh draped

like a matador’s

undulating cape

over the bright

barbed hook

that pierces

the scaled lip

and forces

the horned fish

up through a helix

of cross-currents

to corkscrew

flailing, gills

splayed, gasping

into the sere

maze of air.

Dan MacIsaac served for ten years as a director on UVIC’s Environmental Law Centre board. Brick Books published his collection of poetry, Cries from the Ark. His poetry has been published in a wide variety of literary magazines, including filling station, Stand, The Malahat Review, and Arc. Dan MacIsaac’s work has been short-listed for the Walrus Poetry Prize and the CBC Short Story Prize. His website is www.danmacisaac.com.