What’s in it for you if you teach him
to fish? Wasted energy, effort,
time –
and in the end, fewer fish.
Give him the fish – not a
large one; but tell him it is
the nicest, juiciest one of the lot.
And wait…
When he comes back, he’ll ask you:
“How do I fish? I want to eat for life.”
“Fishing isn’t for you
mate, come back tomorrow
if you want another fish.”
Don’t go there tomorrow.
Juicy one for him the next day, but
a little smaller.
And wait…
By the end, you’ll have a starving man
who thinks he’s got the best fish.
And you’ll have all the fish.
Poetry and Prose 