The Fisherman
an ekphrastic poem
Rising before dawn,
as so many times before,
he walks to the banks
of the Magdalena River.
.
His age-worn boat bobs,
creaking against the current,
like his old bones,
in the cool of morning.
.
Soon, the Barranquilla sun
will climb onto its perch,
relentless in its intensity,
a hawk eyeing its prey.
.
Sweat beads already form
on his browned skin,
weathered like canvas,
lined like the strands of his nets.
.
The river can be cruel,
but it provides life;
the only life he’s known.
He does not question it.
.
One day he will make
his final cast on the waters,
but that's not his concern.
There is only today.
About the Creator
Randy Baker
Poet, author, essayist.
My Vocal "Top Stories":
* The Breakers Motel * 7 * Holding On * Til Death Do Us Part * The Fisherman
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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More stories from Randy Baker and writers in Poets and other communities.
Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts4 days ago in Longevity
Comments (14)
Congratulations, Randy!
Nice poem
A great piece of culture here! Beautifully crafted. Though, that boat makes me nervous, lol. Leave it to the pros.
Great poem.
Great poem, Mike! It is so visual!! I really liked this part: Soon, the Barranquilla sun will climb onto its perch, relentless in its intensity, a hawk eyeing its prey
This is a really beautiful poem. Great job and congrats on Top Story!
Congrats for making the Top Story! Well deserved.
What a great poem that details an age old way of life. Congratulations on the Top Story.
heyyyy congrats on a well deserved top story
I absolutely love this fishing is vitality
A beautiful mood piece!! 👏👏☺️
I love how he and his boat are so linked
Lovely piece
Lovely