By Greg Mans
For The Cordova Times
It all seems years ago.
Another lifetime.
An old man remembering.
And how rich, crisp, and somehow oddly recent.
I can even smell it.
Glacier air in Spring, the silty River water being drawn by my boat.
The fleet on anchor; outgoing tide, Copper River Flats.
Early morning fish splashing along cork line; end of net, low tide slack.
Blue water, cool air, sunshine, and calm seas. Running and looking,
Lifting over soft swells. Setting in funny water and slicks and brown water edge.
The southwest gale. Rain blowing and wind in my face. Cabin wet, Diesel stove trying. Exhaustion. Finally, behind the bar. Relief.
Smiling faces of tender boat at closure. Tired happy, I give them what I have. Thankful. Thankful.
Six knot idle back. No need to rush, I’m already here.
It has always been more than fish.
Morning walk up Ski Hill or on up to Eyak Ridge.
The green of dwarf spruce against the blue skies; early season blueberries stain my teeth.
On bike, drifting past Fish and Game and along by Theresa’s bakery and Sue’s Knives; Wind in face and hair.
The refresh of cool water as my body enters, Reservoir and Lake Eyak; Summer hot.
Ibec River running clear and cold. Gravel bank stained copper. Warm sun. To do list ignored.
Boswell bay; feet bare, Cold sand and sunshine.
Sauna at the Cove. Saturday morning. Rain and wind all day.
Late Fall. Cold nights. Crunch of snow underfoot as I step outside my boat cabin to pee; Northern lights, sky lit green.
The people.
At Post Office or in line at Nichols grocery.
Belle on her bike. Bluegrass dancing and the fiddle.
Library on a rainy day.
Swimming pool, early morning crowd.
Bill and his Blackie. Kim and her Fina. Power Creek Road in late morning sun.
Fishermen around the harbor. Dan Nichols’ laugh heard two floats over. End of that big boat float; Bella Donna Bill and Steve on the Saulteur drinking beer and mending gear, late afternoon sun.
Baja, beer glass cold, drink ring on table.
Coffee at Theresa’s, Gus with aviators, a grin and the night before dragging.
Rubio’s yard, mid-summer, hummingbirds and bees and children laughing.
An evening event at Cordova Center, brownies for sale. Big fat snowflakes falling. Street lights glow.
Substitute teaching at the schools. Such brightness and hope.
Thank you for your trust.
I remember. So I guess I have known.
And what privilege; what pain.
Smiling still.
Thank you. Keep going for it. Love.
About the author
Greg Mans came to Cordova more than 10 years ago and fell in love. He worked on NVE’s Chinook Escapement Monitoring Project, as a fisherman (f/v Shelly Marie; f/v Good Tide; and under eight different captains), and as a substitute teacher in Cordova schools. He is forever enriched from all that he learned from the students.
“Beats working” he would say about it all – words learned from his first gillnet captain, Dan Nichols. Last March, Greg sustained a spinal cord injury and has since been on a long healing journey. He is deeply grateful for all the support that Cordova has given. Greg sends his thanks and love.
About the photographer
David Saiget has been doing black and white photography since the 1970s. He is self-employed as a direct-market gillnetter, professional consulting fisheries biologist, and professional mountain guide. He first started living in Cordova in the 1980s and is married with three children.
What’s The Catch?
This poem and photo were originally published in the “Tracks” themed Winter 2022 edition of The Catch, Cordova’s literary & arts quarterly publication. The Catch is available at the library and the museum or at the Cordova Public Library Facebook page and at cordova-library.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Catch_Winter.pdf. The Catch is edited by city librarian Jillian Gold. To receive a free digital copy of The Catch or for more information, email jllian.cordovapubliclibrary@gmail.com.
Submit to the spring edition
The Catch is accepting submissions for the Spring edition until March 15. The theme is “Fresh”.
Submit to jillian.cordovapubliclibrary@gmail.com, or mail Cordova Public Library, ATTN The Catch, PO Box 1170, Cordova, AK 99574, or stop by the library’s circulation desk.
All ages. All mediums. No entry limit.
