crossing the bay

a few days after crossing the chesapeake bay
wondered what my grandfather would say about
seagulls and old fishermen on lawnchairs and
trying to catch a break or a big sea bass no
luck alas. tourists drive on and on and into
another sunset guess maybe it302222d be quiet for
what302222s to say? But perhaps he302222d grin and nod
pat me right there on the back and remind me
how it is to wait and wait and wait and wait

I watched for a while, until and old old man
in an orange shirt pulled a big-ass flounder
up onto the rest-stop pier, popped himself a
beer and smiled. For a while. Then. He threw
it back.

Then I
got in
my car

I drove a while, not very far until Virginia
Beach, where I pulled up to buy some gas and
a soda pop. The attendant asked me, how302222s it
going? Fine I said. But right then, I knew I
lied. Papa was gone. So was the fish. I just
Had my smile and all those memories. Where302222s
My dreams? With that flounder, I guess, down
swimming under the big Chesapeake Bay Bridge