MAUI’S FISH
He looked from the West, and their spirits grew dark,
Their hearts roll’d in their breasts!
“Never man can have fish’d here before. Let us anchor!” they pleaded;
And Maui said, “Anchor, and fish!”
For he knew where he was, and he knew he was where he would be.
Oh! Oh, those fish!....Enough! It was even as he said—
So many! so large! and they surely desired to get eaten!
Lo! at the cast of the hook, how they came flocking, and flocking!
Two castings apiece, and behold! the canoe, it was full!
Great then were the hearts of these Brothers! They said,
“It is well! and now let us for home.”
But Maui said humbly, “O Brothers!
Here is one without fish. Behold, I have had neither share of the sport or the spoil.
Lend me a hook, O Brother!—Brother! lend me thy hook”
(To one and another he said it). But they taunted him, all, and refused.
“Fishers have hooks, not the maggot that hides in the timber.”
“Canst thou fish with a hook, little Trickster, indeed? but try fishing without!”
“Yet will I fish,” answers Maui, and lo! lo! the wonder.
They murmur admiring, in envy they muse, and amazement,
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