Next Time

Next Time

Sitting in the boat
Learning how to fish
Baiting my hook and
Casting my line
Under his cautious supervison
Trying to learn patience
Never really doing so.
"How will you catch a fish?" he would ask.
"If you don't leave your line in the water."
I would return my line
to the rivers depth
Then we would talk
about anything and everything
He would say, "you have a bite."
I would excitedly pick up my pole
Ready to reel in my fish
He would say, "wait Sam, not yet"
Standing beside me in the boat...
Saying, "wait...wait"
"Now!" he'd say.
I'd pull and reel with all my might
Seeing the line pull tight
Reeling in my prize.
Pulling my fish to the boat.
Ready to dip it up
Getting closer...
Dip net in hand
I'm so excited
Then I see my prize
A big old snapping turtle
Dropping the net and pole
into the water
Screaming out
Over the sound of his laughter
and him saying
"Next time Sam.
There's always a next time."