The One That Got Away

I'm drifting in my little boat on a mostly calm sea.
Caressed by cooling breezes -
The endless sky clear and blue,
Fading into a glorious sunset blazing from the west.

It's a stunning sight.

Around me, the waters are teeming
With a plethora of fish - large and small.
They swim around me, churning up the water.
I could reach in and grab them by the handful.

Glorious sky, peaceful sailing, plentiful fish.
I'm grateful.
And yet, my mind will not be swayed from
The one that got away.

Plenty of Fish In The Sea

They love to tell you there are plenty of fish in the sea.
Great.
Never mind that the last fish who snagged my line
Nearly killed me.

He yanked me out of my safe, dry spot and dragged me down
down
down
Down to the depths of sea.


He pulled me along behind him and I was tenacious.
He was such a lovely fish...  The kind I'd always dreamed of catching

And while I did get to see some remarkable things beneath the surface of the water,
I barely survived.

Just when I thought my
Lungs would burst, we would break the surface of the water.
Just long enough for me to inhale a
Gulp of sweet air
Before he took me down again.

Three times, four
I kicked up toward the light
Broke the surface and gasped
Before he dragged me underneath again.

Apparently, he thought I needed to get a little wet.

Finally, I decided to release the pole.  I just... let go.
The fish took off - my hook still in his mouth
Towing the pole as he
Went down into the abyss without me.

I scrambled back into my little boat
Gasping,
Panting,
Spent, but elated.
Feeling more alive than ever before.

Happily now I drift blithely on the surface of the sea
Without paddle or pole.

I suppose one of those other fish could possibly leap into my boat.
That is what it would take,
Because my casting days are over.