‘A Fisherman’s Life’: A Poem by Pamela Ruggiero

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A Fisherman’s Life

The fronds of the palm trees sway in the breeze.
A lone tiny boat is bounced by the seas.
The sunset is orange, reflection is brown.
The sailboat is cruising, searching for ground.
Its sails are not open; winds aren’t enough.
It turns to the land in seas not so rough.
The sailor aboard will happily feast
on fish that he caught, but crabs he released.

The crabs were too small to legally keep,
but fish in the boat are all in a heap.
Arriving in harbor, anchor’s put down.
He’s managed to make it back into town.
He wraps all his fish in yesterday’s news
as men on the dock are drowning in booze.
Large trawlers unload their catch for the day.
The slatternly rocks now stink of decay.

He walks on the pier and heads to his car,
and starts driving home which isn’t too far.
His wife and two kids are waiting to eat.
He almost is home and drives down his street.
His journey today has gone very well.
Success will ensure they’ll eat for a spell.
A feast now awaits the fam’ly of four.
Some fish they will freeze for when they want more.

The peaceful dark night is starkly pitch black.
Tomorrow he shouldn’t have to go back.
He rests by the fire—a warm peaceful glow.
Fatigue and desire will cancel, you know.
He’ll sleep like a baby, happy and full.
He’s changed into jammies made out of wool.
A few seconds later, starting to snore,
he’s fallen asleep right there on the floor.

His wife gets a blanket, wraps it around.
In seas of hard work a harbor he’s found.

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Pamela Ruggiero was born in Urbana, Illinois in 1952. She currently resides in Antioch, California.
She was a software engineer and did consultation work in IT. She also played tournament chess at a high level and did oil paintings. She’s now retired.

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