He sits on the dock
rod and reel in his hands
a staff, raised above
the rippling waters of the ocean

He adorns his hook
with a colorful lure
casting his line into the serene
bobbing and baiting, with a splash
he awaits that first tug

They pull against each other
until the mark gives up
and the struggle ends,
as he revels in his catch

Looking into the eyes of his conquest,
he unhooks the bribe, smiles
and gently lowers the fish back into the briny deep
and the fisherman watches as
the calm returns once again

©2014 Dorinda Duclos  All Rights Reserved