I send a cast
Out towards
The open blue.
A string is thrust
                   Forward
By metal hook
And weight.
A neon piece
Of flashy plastic
Bound by strand
Hopes to attract
Daring predators,
Unknowing prey.
A little sphere
Of red and white
Rests on the
Water’s surface.
Bobbing with
The flow
Of the
Sea.
So I wait.

I wait for r i p p l e s
To break the surface.
And I wait.

I wait for a tug.
One tug.

Another.

A third.

Surely I’ve baited
A magnificent fish.
A beautiful fish.
A rare fish.
A unique
Fish!
I yank the pole
And turn back the reel.
I pull back again.
More reeling.
Yanking.
Again.
Then
The
          Line
               Goes
                    Slack.
Denial washes over
Me
And my hopes
Crash
With the waves
Along the shore.
I draw the line back
Completely,
And
To
My unsurprising
Dismay
My bright piece
Of flashy plastic
Had gone with
The sly, clever fish.
It’s always the smart ones
I think to myself.

Then I whip forth
My rod and nylon and hook.
A new piece of plastic,
A new facade,
Is equipped
To capture
A true
Specimen.
Perhaps another
“One that got away.”
Another mysterious,
Evasive fish.
Probably
Beautiful,
Likely
Brilliant,
But it won’t be mine,
Because I’m fated
To stay
Alone.
Away from
The many fish
In the sea.