The Old Man And The Sea Poem by MOLOY BHATTACHARYA

Eighty four long days
Did he spend alone
In the lap of the vast sea
Without catching a fish,
The poor Santiago,
Old and weak he grew now.
People called him, ‘salao’
A reputation he always bore
An insult he brooked no more.
His only loyal protégé
For the nagging profession,
The young Manolin
Who was forbidden
By his worried parents
For the old fellow to run errand,
But the little one loved him
Kept faith on the fisherman.
Determined they together
Off to a daring venture
To hunt Marlin with skiff
In the wide Gulf Stream.
Ensued a great battle,
The old man fought hard
To catch his prized catch,
The Marlin stabbed and strapped,
Not rescued the carcass
That devoured the hungry sharks
Left only its skeleton and backbone.
The old man took a long rest
Woke up for a taste
Of coffee and newspaper
Manolin took for him.
They promised together
To fish for ever.