Live Fish Sleeping

'been trying to crack through this once flowing river;
there are still live fish sleeping
down on the floor.
I think they shake a little
when the pick ax makes contact
with the surface unyielding.
I imagine fin colors intertwined and constantly changing once
the swimming again occurs.
but first, the thaw
or if it doesn't melt,
we force
our way past this hardened walk-upon-able, thicker-than-we-knew
 ice,
make a circle,
lower a line,
 pull out
 a wiggly thrasher that didn't
think this was the day it should die.
(Sorry fish.  It's not personal.  We just want sport and dinner.
To that end, we are willing to make a sacrifice
of you.)