You hook me in murky water,
your line slicing ripples
to get to me,
pulling sinker, sinking quickly
in shallow, soft silt,
barbed intrigue
propelling,
compelling,
my muffled sounds escaping,
almost inaudible, small whispering,
cold-etched-bones
quivering to be spared, yet
yearning to be spread
like thorned sunlight
on cinnamon crackers.

You get me, you know;
hook, line,
and catfish meow.