Published in Overland Issue 227 Winter 2017 · Uncategorized Crossing Galata, Istanbul John Upton Flying fish on Galata Bridge, rods bowing and bobbing like suppliants at a vizier’s audience. Each fisher has his own space program, launch pad, elbow room, bait bucket, like this sleeve-tugging city. I’m for the fish, somehow. Down there there’s piscine stitching of continents: Europe – Asia, ferries and fish restaurants. Crossing their sunshine I pass between poles of then and now, a fish caught in a rip of time, the zip of bait, the howl of hook in mouth, it flips me onto this bridge and off, too scrappy a catch, victim of cheap jet fuel and wanderlust. Image: Fly fishing tackle box next to stream / Chesapeake Bay Program Read the rest of Overland 227 If you enjoyed this poem, buy the issue Or subscribe and receive four outstanding issues for a year John Upton More by John Upton › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays 16 May 202516 May 2025 · Poetry Bluey Blood Dorothy Hewett Alice cut her wrists / & joined the Party / read The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists / & Ten Days that Shook the World 12 May 202512 May 2025 · Main Posts Somebody please just do it Sam Wallman Somebody please just do it