Fishing

George Goddard

Fishing
There is always
this sand
this sea
this windcracked, saltslapped rock

And small boys and 
old men fishing here:
their thoughts reeling back time
repenting choices never made – 
the old men

And the small boys
at the day’s first light
discovering, each with his line’s bated breath, 
dreams as restless
and ageless as the sea…

The sea forgets
old men’s reminiscings
and the dreams of small boys
fly saltspray high!