Tybee Island Pier
(a.k.a. the “bridge” between generations)
By Joe Lawson - Photo by Mike Manitta
Grampas often bemoan, the worlds impending plight,
Cause the “kids” wanna “fix” things, that were working all right.
But one night a Grampa came, to fish from Tybee pier,
Though how to do it well, was not yet very clear.
Gramps couldn’t help notice, one kid having great luck,
So as Gramps tied his line, he questioned the young buck.
“Son, in your opinion, is this big hook too tall?”
“No mister it isn’t, in fact it’s much too small…”
He plucked a huge steel hook, from under his hat band,
And tied it on Gramp’s line, with a swift youthful hand.
Not many saw the deed, it happened all too fast,
But fate kept the event, from being over passed.
Grampa yelled, “I’ve got one! And it’s a big one too!”
They all reeled in their poles, as pier fishermen do.
I won’t go on and on, with a long drawn out plot,
18 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JAN 2020
‘bout Grampa and the fish, and they war that they fought.
“The kid said, “Are you tired, shall I reel it a while?”
“Thank you sir, but no thanks,” said Grampa with a smile.
A nearly worn out Grandpa, finally won the fight,
Everyone ooohed and aaahed, as the fish came into sight.
The kid ignored the cold, wading right in the sea,
to get the fish upright, like he’d seen on tv.
But law said the fish was too big to keep and fry,
And that was near enough to make poor Grampa cry.
Plus Gramps had no Kodak, the kid said, “That’s a sin!”
So he ran and got his, and captured Grampa’s grin.
Then the kid risked his arm, extracting that big hook,
and Gramps could only watch, with an overwhelmed look.
That “Generation Gap,” bridged in the name of fun,
A Grampa’s life richened, by someone’s kind grandson.