The Fisherman by Kurt Brown

Life is filled with pleasures and uncertainties. We have ups and downs, and enjoy the better days because we have survived the worst. The “Fisherman” by Kurt Brown, tells a tale of a man fishing every day in hopes of catching something beyond him. This poem represents our lives and is a direct metaphor of the duality of success and failure. Our lives can relate to this poem because there comes a time in our lives, when we realize the world has so much to offer us. In order to see and feel the many wonders in life, risk needs to be put forth.
Life does do not come to us, like the fisherman; who continues to cast his line into the deep, dark, and thundering waters, perseverance is required. Someday the catch will be rewarding and others will leave empty handed. However, it was enjoyable to go out and risk catching something glorious. Fishing is sport that involves any body of water. Theses body of waters are always bigger than our self’s. “Maybe it’s the shadow of other fish, greater than his, the shadow of other men’s souls passing over him,” (Brown 6,7) after analyzing this line, I concluded Brown was referencing life and how it continues without us.
There is always a Goliath in life that towers over us all. However, we should not let it pass without attempting to grasp the monstrosity that is life. Not all catches are easy; sharks, marlin and other big game fish will all struggle to pull you down with them into the depths of the deep, dark Ocean. Once you hook the fish, a fight is ensured that will test the limits of your heart. Whether it is with bigger fish or bigger men, strength is required to overcome them. I believe this is one message brown intended to convey in his poem.

In a way, Brown tells an aspiring tale of the fisherman’s success and failures. “Each day he grabs his gear and makes his way to the ocean,” (Brown 8,9) determined to catch the best in the salty waters, yet satisfied knowing if he goes home empty handed, the best of him was put forth. Brown was trying to showcase the relentlessness of the fisherman’s pride. Each day was different and offered a better catch than before, even if nothing as caught in the previous days, the fisherman continued to have faith and cast his line.
In life, we feel like this. Some days we feel like all the choices made up to this point have been pointless. Then we remember, after time spent sulking about our mistakes, that we still have a chance our luck and livelihood. In a way, we all have a little fisherman in all of us. Failure in life is expected, like death, everyone has to face it head on. However, others charge right into it, hoping for the best outcome. We like to think control is always in our hands and the outcomes in majority of situations will tip towards our favor.
However, all we have to rely on is uncertainty. Yes we can plan the lives we wish to live out, pursue the goals in life that will allow happiness to flow, but the only real goal we all achieve knows that uncertainty reigns supreme. “He’ll go back soon, thinking: “Maybe tonight. ” (Brown 17) Brown conveyed the doubt that plagues the fisherman’s conscious. “Maybe tonight,” he is unsure whether the trip back is worth it. Although he may be optimistic and determined, he can’t shake the uncertainty.
Like a double-edged sword, you cannot have one without the other. In this case, it’s doubt that attacks his unyielding perseverance. In closing, despite all of the contrasts of success and failure, Brown started his poem with a strong message “A man spends his whole life fishing in himself for something grand,” we all want to be the best versions of ourselves. But the thing is; if allowed, we get better as time goes on. We become wiser, and look back on all of the great things that we allowed ourselves to experience.
So, to continue becoming grand, we have to constantly pull the greatness out of our souls and temper it. Like a blacksmith creating a fine piece of metal from raw material, it takes time, work, and fire to create a truly fine piece of work. We must constantly fuel the fire and if that fire should go out, it must be relight within to continue on. Like the fisherman in Brown’s poem, preparation is required to fish properly. Otherwise, if a strong fish comes your way, how do you expect to make it yours?