Bait awaits amongst earnest endeavours.
And brings hidden dwellers to the surface,
shyly shoaling beyond their depths of safety.
The River Man slowly stirs on the bank
in a pose of close detachment and taps
his reel with knowing purpose, before gathering
the lost days together in his keep net
of many colours, watching closely the tide.
Whether the days are full like buoyant floats
or empty like sinking weights, his line
still snares passing sea drift, which he throws back
into the river beyond time’s current.
And where each catch starts its plunge into action,
its journey will stream beyond abated breath.