Testament of a Fisherman

"I fish because I love to;
because I love the environs
where fish are found;
because
fish do not lie or cheat
but respond
only to endless patience;
because there are no telephones
on the water; because
only in the woods
can I find solitude
without loneliness;
because maybe someday
I will catch a mermaid."

(Adapted from a work by John Voelker)

I am a Fisherman

I am a fisherman, for life.
I will always be a fisherman.
It’s not something I do,
it is who I am.
Fishing is not an escape.
It is where I belong,
where I am supposed to be.
It is not a place,
but a lifelong journey.
It is a passage my father showed me,
and I will show it to others.

When you understand all of this,
you will know me,
and WE will fish together.