The Three Fishers by Charles Kingsley

Name: The Three Fishers
Author: Charles Kingsley

The Three Fishers is a short story written by Charles Kingsley and published in 1859. It tells the tale of three fishermen who are out at sea when they encounter a storm that threatens to sink their boat. The men pray for help, and soon after, they see a vision of Jesus Christ walking on water towards them. They ask Him if He will save them from drowning, but He replies that He cannot do so because it is not His time yet. However, the fishermen are saved by another miracle when their boat suddenly floats upright and they are able to make it safely back to shore. The story ends with a message of hope and faith in God's plan for each individual.

By Charles Kingsley · First published 1870 · Genre: Poetry, Narrative, Tragedy · 266 words

First lines

Three fishers went sailing away to the West, / Away to the West as the sun went down; / Each thought on the woman who loved him the best, / And the children stood watching them out of the town; / For men must work, and women must weep, / And there's little to earn, and many to keep, / Though the harbour bar be moaning.

Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower, / And they trimmed the lamps as the sun went down; / They looked at the squall, and they looked at the shower, / And the night-rack came rolling up ragged and brown.

But men must work, and women must weep, / Though storms be sudden, and waters deep, / And the harbour bar be moaning.

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The Three Fishers is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Kingsley, dated 1870 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Charles Kingsley
Date: 1870 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Narrative, Tragedy
Length: 266 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The Three Fishers is a famous poem by Charles Kingsley, therefore it would be classified under the Poetry genre.
Narrative — The poem tells a story of the fatal fishing trip of three fishermen. This fits the Narrative genre as it represents connected events.
Tragedy — The poem follows a tragic narrative, detailing the death of the three fishermen and the grief of their loved ones. It thus falls under the Tragedy genre.