Ulua

Ulua

Before
you were only tattered
sun-aged pictures
at Richards Market
and stories told over beer
groups of guys, leaning with their elbows
on the back of my truck
taking turns bragging

But now
I saw you in that wave
electric blue fins, silver body,
big and fast, reaching the crest
then shooting to deeper water

Ping!
my line snaps on yellow coral
and you had to jump
as if to say,
"Look at me!"

My girlfriend hates you too
She stopped coming with me
-too windy
-too humid
-so boring
She brought an Ipod once
so I couldn't ask her to cut bait

So I do it alone now
my hands covered in fish oil
and with inky fingernails I slide down a tako
attach a cowbell
and wait patiently to eat you