rising tide
the clammer’s skiff
begins to stir

4 Responses

  1. Alan Summers Says:

    rising tide
    the clammer’s skiff
    begins to stir

    —JEFFREY FERRARA

    Wonderfully evocative of the atmosphere of being up early for clam fishing.

    The Clam Skiff’s Role in the Essex Clamming Industry
    Outfit of a Clammer. — The outfit of a clammer does not require? much outlay of capital. A skiff or dory, one or two clam hoes and three? or four clam baskets complete the list. Occasionally, as at Ipswich,? where the clam grounds are widely scattered, power dories are used,? and this necessitates the investment of considerable capital; but the? investment of the average clammer does not exceed $26. Personal? apparel, such as oilskins and boots, are not considered under this head.?

    Clamming Outfit.?
    Skiff dory, $22 00?
    Two clam diggers, 1 50?
    Four clam baskets, 2 00?
    Total, $25 50?

    The boats most often used by the north shore clammers are called?
    "skiff dories," and in construction are between a dory and a skiff.?
    These boats are especially adapted for use in rivers.

    Source: Massachusetts. Commissioners on Fisheries and Game. (1909). A report upon the mollusk fisheries of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter printing co., state printers.

  2. Jeffrey Ferrara Says:

    Thank you, Alan, for your comment and for providing such a nice piece of background for the haiku.

  3. Magyar Says:

    Nice Jeff.
    __My parallel thought: a weave of mussels on a low tide stone; an inlet at Ray' Point, Millbridge Maine.

    a punt
    polled across this bay
    mussel stone

  4. martin1223 Says:

    Enjoyed your poem and it reminded me of an older weaker one of mine inspired by
    Luchino Visconti’s “La terra trema" film:

    fishing village
    the bow lanterns fade
    in the dawn

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