overfishing slowly

I want to drag it out of you - 
but only what you choose to give. 
Which limits me in crank and pull, but
O! Resplendent, iridescent fish!

Well-worth the pull that I don't do,
to land such monsters of the deep 
as swim in you with eyes alight,
'til not a secret left to keep. 

You'd like to drag me out of it. But 
just so far as I shall leap. The boat 
is lure enough, you nod approvingly.

Such fish as weep unhooked, uncaught 
upon your uncast line, they have as much 
of time as seas can hold. You'll wait for those

who, bored of life, perhaps have
grown too bold. 

To say we drag, or pull at all 
is pure hyperbole. We measure time 
by pondside cues, so passive and intent
are we. There's never been a rush at all, 
and more's the pity if there was. For greater 
still, do fishies huge swim strange in us. 

And what if we had filled one net,
in one huge drag and sweep, to catch 
up every one, and leave no spawn?

For no because more just than
just because, we'd find 

our fish are gone