Morning salt pon mi jacket, sun barely wake from bed, Rosa walk down by di harbour, red scarf round her head. “Yuh really catchin’ fish today?” Mi seh, “Girl… watch an’ see.” Got two old rods and a battered tin, coffee strong, little rum-grin, boats dem creak by di harbour wall, Rosa seh, “Paco, yuh nah catch none at all.” Mi seh easy, darling, give di sea some time, fish got rhythm, dem don’t punch no clock line, she roll her eyes, then she sit beside me, whole damn morning feel easy and free. Line inna water, sun pon di chrome, Rosa beside me — harbour feel like home. Fishing all day with Rosa by mi side, nothing on di hook but we still catch a vibe. Sea breeze blow and di whole world slow, Rosa laugh — an’ mi don’t wanna go. Fishing all day, yeah, easy and bright, harbour turn gold in di afternoon light. Maybe no fish, but mi tell yuh true: best catch today, Rosa, might be you. Old man Lennox shout from pier number three, “Bredda, bait too dry, come borrow from me.” Rosa nearly choke from laughing so hard, seh mi fishing skills belong inna scrapyard. Then something pull — mi jump to mi feet, rod bend low, heart skip one beat, Rosa shouting, “Hold it! Don’t act tough!” Up come a boot… …well, close enough. No big marlin, no story fi boast, just me and Rosa pon di old south coast. Fishing all day with Rosa by mi side, nothing on di hook but we still catch a vibe. Sea breeze blow and di whole world slow, Rosa laugh — an’ mi don’t wanna go. Fishing all day, yeah, easy and bright, harbour turn gold in di afternoon light. Maybe no fish, but mi tell yuh true: best catch today, Rosa, might be you. By five o’clock tide start running away, Rosa put her shoes back on, seh, “Next time bring proper bait, okay?” Mi seh, “Next time?” She smile. Dat one word sweeter than anything mi coulda pulled from di sea today. Fishing all day with Rosa by mi side, nothing on di hook but we still catch a vibe. Sea breeze blow and di whole world slow, Rosa laugh — an’ mi don’t wanna go. Fishing all day till di daylight blue, harbour full of nothing, but mi heart full too. No trophy fish, no fisherman’s proof… Best catch today was spending it with you. Rosa seh, “Tomorrow?” Mi seh… “Bring di bait.” [soft laugh, gulls, tape fade]
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