What do you say to a man who lacks
the makings of the sea?

“Old man, leave me be. Salao, you.
Haven’t caught a fish in… what, 84 days?
I am young, strong, sturdy. You don’t deserve me.
I will climb a boat that smells of morning fish.
You pull a line to break it. You’re useless, old man.”

But what if I am you, old man? What if
I become salao and that big fat marlin
prances around my boat and that big fat
marlin prances around my boat until my
left hand gives in until my left hand…

I love you, old man. And now you’ve
made me cry. I promise you that we will
fish together until either of us dies. I need you,
old man. I’m practicing self-actualization.

Until that time this is to be the story
of the old man and the sea.