Kumak's Fish. Michael Bania

      

      CONTENTS

       Kumak’s Fish

       Author’s Note

       Copyright

      On a beautiful Arctic morning,

      Kumak looked out the window of his house.

      Through the willows he could see the sun rising over the frozen river.

      “Ahhh, spring,” said Kumak to his family.

      “The days are long. The nights are short, and the ice is still hard.

      Good day for fish.”

       “Good day for fish,”

      said Kumak’s wife,

      pulling on her

      warm parka.

       “Good day for fish,”

      said his wife’s mother,

      pulling on her

      warm mukluks.

       “Good day for fish,”

      said his sons and daughters,

      pulling on their warm beaver hats

      and fur-lined gloves.

      Kumak packed his fishing gear on his sled.

      He packed his wife on the sled.

      He packed his wife’s mother on the sled.

      He packed his sons and daughters on the sled.

      And then, in the safest place of all,

      Kumak packed his Uncle Aglu’s amazing hooking stick.

      Everyone in the village knew of

      Uncle Aglu’s amazing hooking stick.

      Uncle Aglu had carved it many years

      ago out of a piece of fine willow,

      and each spring he caught more

      fish than anyone in the village.

      But this spring,

      Uncle Aglu’s legs were stiff.

      He told Kumak to use

      the amazing hooking stick.

      This was Kumak’s lucky day!

      When they reached the great, frozen lake past the mouth of the river,

      Kumak’s family dug their fishing holes and sat down to wait.

      Kumak and his family sat for a long time.

      They were quiet. They were patient.

      They scooped away the ice growing around their fishing holes.