Catch & Release

Teach a man to fish and you'll feed him for a lifetime
isn't that enough proof that community serves the lifeline?
We all need each other in some way or another
So there's no reason at all to ever shun your sister or your brother

Catch the truth of what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself
Release the lie that you have to do life all alone without any help 

You learn the lessons early on before you can walk
Taught the kind or means words as you're introduced how to talk
Encouragement here, a slight stinging barb there
No one is all good or bad
Everything you can and will be is all mixed up inside to be fair


Catch the truth of what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself
Release the lie that you have to do life all alone without any help 

No one is an island to themselves
We all exist attached to the mother land or our father's hand
No one makes it out of this story alive
It's only down to our good or bad deeds that will determine how peacefully we'll arrive on the other side

Help someone if you're able
Not having the ability to do so is another fibbing fable 
A listening ear, a shield against momentary fear, a light or hope in the dark exclaiming "You matter and you deserve to be here!"
That spark, that brief stuttering respite could restart the dimming heart

Catch the truth of what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself
Release the lie that you have to do life all alone without any help 

Author's Note: The ever inspiring Melanie Cole posted a picture note of a fish flopped on the sand and that image brung this poem to life. I appreciate this community so much for the ever flowing lessons and ideas I glean here on a daily basis.