tarpon poem
an ideal world
hot sun, blue sky, clear, slick water
sweat
a graphite wand, a sliver of steel, a wisp of feathers
a flash of silver breaks the mirror
then another, and another
feathers land in water
magically, they come to life
line tightens
mirror smashed
display of power
water flies, gills flare, body shakes, shudders
again, and again, and again
the beast tires
arms ache
hand grasps jaw
feathers removed
great fish swims free once more
tarpon
one of God’s gifts to fly fishers