Michael Schmeltzer Fishing in the Time Stream If time truly is a stream, not even the lamp casting its net of light can retrieve from that river his wife. It pulls closer mere bottles (beer, pills) and a pencil like an oar he no longer paddles. Moisture blurs the window in silver slivers like minnows. The television flickers from batter to pitcher as a sepia picture of the woman who once lured him to the city casts a shadow in which the old man basks like a fish beheaded, gills opening & closing as if still swimming. |