The Catch of a life

by Richard Maxfield - Gemini

The catch of a Life
by Richard Maxfield
4-4-99

An old man, sets by the shore
drawing his breath, seems a chore
his face, is wrinkled and tan
he was an, old fisherman
his shirt was torn, his hands were dirty
mumbling something, about nineteen thirty
he sets there, with all of his poles
talking to himself, about lost goals
 people walk by, and shake their head
some of them treat him, as if he were dead
dirty old cap, and rubber boots
muttering something, about his roots
with hands that shake, and eyes so blue
thinking to myself, is there something I can do
I stop one day, to say hello
and ask if, he had some place to go
he start to tell me, about the one that got away
the only one, of all of his days
he said, it was the best
so much better, than all of the rest
he said how hard, he had tried 
and this was not, a fisherman’s lie
the year was, nineteen thirty four
this was the one, he had been fishing for
he went on, telling the story
with vivid words, and all of its glory
tears came, to his old eyes
I knew, he tells no lies
he talked, of a body sleek and fast
with so much memory, of the past
how all his young life, this was what he did want
and now the  memories, haunt and taunt
the fight of his life, he had gave
he would take this memory, to his grave
he went on to say, this was the spot
he would give all, if he could have got
his voice grew shaky, and tears down his cheek
with so much passion, in the words that he speak
my heart grew faint, as the story unfold
a story like this had, never been told
on this spot, is where his best catch got away
on a day, much like today
he went on, about the catch of his life
I then realized, it was his wife
he said this was the reason, he always came here
the memory was fresh, and so very clear
of the day he saw, what he seen
his voice grew clear, and a little mean
he told me, this could not have been
his young bride, and his best friend
now he sets out, the rest of his days 
and no one stops to hear what he says
 

 

Birth sign: Gemini
Date created: 1999-05-04 14:22:20
Last updated: 2021-04-14 17:18:09
Poem ID: 52369

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