himself,
Rest
gently now
against
the wood
and think
of
nothing.
He is
working.
Work as
little as
you can.
It was
getting
into the
afternoon
and the
boat still
moved
slowly and
steadily.
But there
was an
added drag
now from
the
easterly
breeze and
the old
man rode
gently
with the
small sea
and the
hurt of
the cord
across his
back came
to him
easily and
smoothly.
Once in
the
afternoon
the line
started to
rise
again. But
the fish