Jon Nakapalau

the wealthy merchant then drowned in the river

after he had refused to sell the poor fisherman

rope on credit that he needed to tie his boat 

to the dock because he did not think that 

the fisherman would catch enough fish

to pay him back and because his

pockets were filled with gold 

that he patted contentedly

even as the fish laughed

as he sank to the very

black cold bottom

of the river.