The Fish

I caught a huge fish

It was a hard blow,

To my knuckles and

My face was covered,

With salt and scales,

I did not assume

That I could take

The fish off the hook.

Finally, I slipped

From the actuality,

Of suffering, it flopped

And fell back into

The waves, shimmering

In the sun’s light.

I did not attempt to catch

It again.

• Marianne Moore