A Fisherman's Tale

When telling a story
About flounder or dory,
I often end up far apart.

But when bowing your head
Or mourning your dead,
I'm together and close to your heart.

You may lend me or hold me
Or show me or fold me,
And all this is merely a start.

What am I?



HintI am many other things beside,
May one of these help you decide:

A bunch of bananas,
A measure of height,
An assistant, or
The way you write!
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Answer
Hands!

The first stanza and the title refer to the typical "fisherman's tale" about the "one that got away".

In the second stanza, bowing your head refers to either praying or the Asian form of greeting. The mourning reference is to "wringing one's hands".

You can "lend a hand" and "hold someone's hand". In Poker, players show their hands to find who wins or fold their hand if it is no good. The last line refers to the many other uses of the word "hand"!

The hint refers to other usages - bananas grow in hands, a horse's height is measured in hands (4 inches), an assistant may be known as a hand (e.g. stagehand), and someone's particular style of writing can be referred to as their "hand" (e.g. "leftclick has a very scrappy hand").