His face was botched by the sun
charcoaled patches of skin cancer
from the tropical sun
reflected on his checks

The countless days in the sun made him dark and cracked
the cracks on his face were as deep as the sea he fished
his charcoaled body loads onto his small fishing barge
that was docked into the small bay

As he rowed into the morning water
he cast his nets into the dangerous waters
where the renowned fearsome spearfish come out to hunt in the water
waiting for the next desperate fishermen to come and seek them

When the old man went far out to cast his nets
sardines in hand
as the old man waited for a sign
a hint
a trail of wake

The silhouette came under and bumped his float

With his harpoon in his hand
the old man could not see this fish
perhaps it was because he was almost blind
or perhaps
because the fish was hiding underneath his boat

when the sun bleached old man bent over the haul of his boat
the fish saw his head lurking above the water
with this the fish leapt out of the water and with it’s mighty spear thrashing
it nearly missed his head

when the fish leapt in the boat the fisherman knew he was secure
not only did he catch a fish
but the most important one in the village

Then the gigantic fish whipped his tail and broke the old mans legs
toppling over into the sea
as the fish skewered him
the old man was never seen again
all that was left was his opened sardine can.
and the thought that he would never get his pick on life.
to defeat his struggle
and to take back what was
ultimately
his