with an anvil as a mate,

Tom turned a heavy crowbar

into a fishing hook.

He loaded up a bullock's head

as decent tasty bait

and added on a smelly chunk,

of long dead leghorn chook.

The Cod were on the bite you see,

the Murray running deep

and fish grow mighty big down there,

so his line was chain and rope.

He tied it to a giant Red Gum where

the bank was rather steep,

with never thought the night ahead,

would test how he could cope.

That huge Red Gum was seen to shake

before its roots gave way,

to slowly slide towards the drink,

towed by a massive Cod.

Tom hitched his team of bullocks up

in last light of the day

and chained them to the upturned tree,

his straining fishing rod.

The wagon and ten bullocks weight

still proved to be too light

and so he summoned two more teams

to join him at the scene.

Three teams all yoked as one held on,

surviving through the night

til morning found the river,

no more where it had been.

By afternoon the fish gave up

and fourteen oxen drowned,

replaced by twenty Clydesdale colts

with foaming lathered sides.

They pulled the trophy fish to shore

where crowds had gathered round,

amazed to see the Murray surge

with several full king tides.

The fillets cut by cross cut saws

fed all of Albury town

and then the bones were framework for

a ten room, teamsters' hut.

If by chance you doubt this tale then

raise your eyes and frown,

just call next time you're down that way-

I think you'll find it shut!

by Kevin Pye

More Than Words" Literary Competition Mudgee Valley Writers FAW 2019. Closing August 31. Visit www.mudgeevalleywriters.wordpress.com.