Fishing with Straws

You're fishing with straws, he says

and motions to the water.

You say

you say nothing

just stare into the surface like it don't matter that some old man wants to chatter

some crazy old geezer with his face all pock marked and wrinkles folding onto themselves

and he says you're fishing with straws, y'hear?

And somewhere you know he's right.

Somewhere you know there ain't no fish in this water

and the pock faced man leaves

and you keep on fishing.

(Image: Sally Mann)