Donghai fisherman by James Thurgood
anglers dot or clump the pier’s boulders
casting, reeling, fighting:
to bait stolen, a catch of seaweed -
talk and laugh
- here four men picnic on beer
and sausage
he stands lean and lone
on a rock fingerpoint,
in arm’s crook, a rod rests
ugly trident of hooks
sea-breeze dancing
- scans far waves
till, tired of watching him
you start to turn
right then: rod up - cast, tri-hook flying
a heartbeat pause
he jerks -
rod arcs tense against sky -
he is reeling, tugging, twisting
- grabbing for a net
scoops up a ten-pounder
cries of elation
even applause
he skips up rocks
phone from pocket:
in minutes, a buyer on motorbike
come and gone
with a rich treat
we resume our cheery, fishless struggles
on that lone rock fingertip
he stands silent
hooks in air
watching where sun spangles
far waves
James Thurgood was born in Nova Scotia, grew up in Windsor, Ontario, and now lives in Calgary, Alberta. He has been a labourer, musician, and teacher – not necessarily in that order. His poems have appeared in various journals (most recently Quatrain Fish, Spadina Literary Review, and Anti-Heroin Chic), anthologies, and in a collection (Icemen/Stoneghosts, Penumbra Press). He is also the author of His Own Misfortune, a work-in-progress. (thurgoodwordsalad.blogspot.com/)