The Boulder Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

A boulder, mossy
waited, for an eternity
submerged,
inside the shallows.

There was excitement
when fishes of all sizes
swam by and glanced
in all directions,
it seemed that their dull eyes
would always linger
a fraction longer
on the boulder
with its moss.

So many fishes did,
for God's own reasons,
accept the lures
that did descend
so slowly, smiling
with their silver faces,
each day and more so
on public holidays.

And others swam,
with just a bit of help,
into the mouths of
much larger fishes,
there to remain
in hidden labyrinths.

Only the boulder
stayed in the shallows,
accumulating,
year by year,
more moss
and searching glances
of dull eyes.