a fish tale

pole in hand and eight years old,
 fishing on a summer lake;
 tackle box and hook and lure,
early morning squint and ache

nothing, nothing, everything --
 fish pulled out and thrown back in;
 nothing, nothing, nothing more --
it's as though we'd never been

what to learn from silent times,
 what to say when nothing's gained;
 pole in hand and eight years old,
bored, but somehow,

entertained