The fisherman by Abbie Farwell Brown

Abbie Farwell Brown was an American author who lived from 1871-1927. She lived in the same house her entire life, experiencing many traditions in her New England community. Brown describes the life of a fisherman in this poem, showing how one’s profession becomes such a large part of a person’s life.

The Fisherman

By Abbie Farwell Brown

The fisherman goes out at dawn 

When every one's abed, 

And from the bottom of the sea 

Draws up his daily bread. 

His life is strange ; half on the shore 

And half upon the sea — 

Not quite a fish, and yet not quite 

The same as you and me. 

The fisherman has curious eyes ; 

They make you feel so queer, 

As if they had seen many things

Of wonder and of fear. 

They're like the sea on foggy days, — 

Not gray, nor yet quite blue ; 

They 're like the wondrous tales he tells 

Not quite — yet maybe — true. 

He knows so much of boats and tides, 

Of winds and clouds and sky ! 

But when I tell of city things, 

He sniffs and shuts one eye !