I(The speaker or writer referring to themselves [aɪ]) wish(Feel or express a strong desire or hope for something that is not easily attainable [wɪʃ]) he'd(Contraction of 'he would', expressing a conditional or habitual action [hid]) sleep(A condition of rest for the body and mind [slip]) and(Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) I(The speaker or writer referring to themselves [aɪ]) could(Past tense of 'can', expressing possibility or ability in the past or conditionally [kʊd]) sleep(A condition of rest for the body and mind [slip]) and(Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) dream(A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep [drim]) about(Concerning or regarding [əˈbaʊt]) the(Definite article, referring to specific lions [ðə]) lions(Large wild cats. The comma indicates a pause or separation from the following statement [laɪənz]), he(Referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]) thought(Past tense of 'think', indicating a thought process [θɔt]). Why(For what reason or purpose [waɪ]) are(Present tense of the verb 'to be', linking the subject to a description [ər]) the(Definite article, referring to specific lions [ðə]) lions(Large wild cats [laɪənz]) the(Definite article, referring to the main thing [ðə]) main(Chief in importance, size, or degree [meɪn]) thing(An object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to [θɪŋ]) that(Referring to the main thing [ðət]) is(Present tense of the verb 'to be', linking the subject to a description [ɪz]) left(Remaining after others have been removed or used [lɛft])? Don't(Contraction of 'do not', expressing a negative command or request [doʊnt]) think(Have a particular belief or idea. The comma indicates a pause or separation from the following statement [θɪŋk]), old(Having lived for a long time; elderly [oʊld]) man(An adult male human being. The comma indicates a pause or separation from the following statement [mæn]), he(Referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]) said(Past tense of 'say', indicating that the words were spoken [sɛd]) to(Expressing direction or location [tɪ]) himself(Referring to the same person as the subject [hɪmˈsɛlf]), Rest(Cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength [rɛst]) gently(In a careful and quiet way [ˈʤɛntli]) now(At the present time or moment [naʊ]) against(In opposition to [əˈgɛnst]) the(Definite article, referring to specific wood [ðə]) wood(The hard fibrous material that forms the main substance of a tree or shrub [wʊd]) and(Used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences, that are to be taken jointly [ənd]) think(Have a particular belief or idea [θɪŋk]) of(Expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) nothing(Not at all; to no extent [ˈnəθɪŋ]). He(Referring to a male person previously mentioned [hi]) is(Present tense of the verb 'to be', linking the subject to a description [ɪz]) working(Engaged in activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result [ˈwərkɪŋ]). Work(Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result [wərk]) as(To the degree or extent that [ɛz]) little(Small in size, amount, or degree [ˈlɪtəl]) as(To the degree or extent that [ɛz]) you(The person or people that the speaker is addressing [ju]) can(Expressing possibility or ability [kən]).
It(refers to the situation or time [ɪt]) was getting into(progressing towards; approaching [wɑz ˈgɪtɪŋ ˈɪntu]) the afternoon(the period of the day between noon and evening [ðə ˌæftərˈnun]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) the boat(a watercraft designed to float and transport people or goods [ðə boʊt]) still(even now; continuing to [stɪl]) moved(proceeded; traveled [muvd]) slowly(at a low speed [sˈloʊli]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) steadily(in a consistent and regular manner [ˈstɛdəli]). But(conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]) there(used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr]) was(past tense of 'is'; indicates existence or a state of being [wɑz]) an added drag(an additional force slowing something down [ən ˈædɪd dræg]) now(at the present time [naʊ]) from(indicating the source or cause of something [frəm]) the easterly breeze(a gentle wind blowing from the east [ðə ˈistərli briz]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) the old man(a man who is advanced in age [ðə oʊld mæn]) rode(maintained his position; coped with [roʊd]) gently(in a mild and careful manner [ˈʤɛntli]) with(in the company of; along with [wɪθ]) the small sea(a slightly choppy or rough area of the ocean [ðə smɔl si]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) the hurt(the pain or discomfort [ðə hərt]) of(indicating possession, origin, or association [əv]) the cord(a thick string or thin rope [ðə kɔrd]) across(extending from one side to the other of [əˈkrɔs]) his back(the rear surface of his body from the shoulders to the hips [hɪz bæk]) came(moved towards; approached [keɪm]) to him(towards himself [tɪ ɪm]) easily(without difficulty [ˈizəli]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) smoothly(in a fluid and even manner [sˈmuðli]).
Once(on one occasion [wəns]) in the afternoon(during the period of the day between noon and evening [ɪn ðə ˌæftərˈnun]) the line(the fishing line [ðə laɪn]) started(began [ˈstɑrtɪd]) to rise(to move upwards [tɪ raɪz]) again(once more; another time [əˈgɛn]). But(conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]) the fish(the marine animal being caught [ðə fɪʃ]) only(merely; just [ˈoʊnli]) continued(persisted; kept on [kənˈtɪnjud]) to swim(to propel itself through water [tɪ swɪm]) at(indicating a location or point [æt]) a slightly(to a small degree [ə sˈlaɪtli]) higher(more elevated [haɪər]) level(position or height [ˈlɛvəl]). The sun(the star that provides light and heat to Earth [ðə sən]) was(past tense of 'is'; indicates existence or a state of being [wɑz]) on(indicating a surface or position [ɔn]) the old man's(belonging to the old man [ðə oʊld mænz]) left arm(the arm on the left side of his body [lɛft ɑrm]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) shoulder(the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm [ˈʃoʊldər]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) on(indicating a surface or position [ɔn]) his back(the rear surface of his body from the shoulders to the hips [hɪz bæk]). So(therefore; as a result [soʊ]) he(the old man [hi]) knew(was aware; understood [nu]) the fish(the marine animal being caught [ðə fɪʃ]) had turned(had changed direction [hæd tərnd]) east of north(in a direction slightly east of due north [ist əv nɔrθ]).
Now that(since; because [naʊ ðət]) he(the old man [hi]) had seen(had visually perceived [hæd sin]) him(the fish [ɪm]) once(one time [wəns]), he(the old man [hi]) could picture(could imagine; visualize [kʊd ˈpɪkʧər]) the fish(the marine animal being caught [ðə fɪʃ]) swimming(propelling itself through water [sˈwɪmɪŋ]) in(located within [ɪn]) the water(the liquid surrounding the fish [ðə ˈwɔtər]) with(having; possessing [wɪθ]) his purple(having a purple color [hɪz ˈpərpəl]) pectoral fins(fins located on the chest of the fish [ˈpɛktərəl fɪnz]) set wide(extended fully [sɛt waɪd]) as(like; in the manner of [ɛz]) wings(appendages used for flying [wɪŋz]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) the great(large; impressive [ðə greɪt]) erect(upright; vertical [ɪˈrɛkt]) tail(the appendage at the rear of the fish [teɪl]) slicing(cutting through [sˈlaɪsɪŋ]) through(passing through [θru]) the dark(the darkness of the deep water [ðə dɑrk]). I(the old man [aɪ]) wonder(to be curious or in doubt about something [ˈwəndər]) how much(to what extent [haʊ məʧ]) he(the fish [hi]) sees(perceives with its eyes [siz]) at(indicating a location or point [æt]) that depth(that level below the surface [ðət dɛpθ]), the old man(a man who is advanced in age [ðə oʊld mæn]) thought(had a thought [θɔt]). His eye(the fish's eye [hɪz aɪ]) is(is; indicates existence or a state of being [ɪz]) huge(extremely large [juʤ]) and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) a horse(a large, four-legged animal [ə hɔrs]), with(having; possessing [wɪθ]) much less(a significantly smaller amount of [məʧ lɛs]) eye(eyesight; vision [aɪ]), can see(is able to see [kən si]) in the dark(in the absence of light [ɪn ðə dɑrk]). Once(at one time in the past [wəns]) I(the old man [aɪ]) could see(was able to see [kʊd si]) quite well(very well; clearly [kwaɪt wɛl]) in the dark(in the absence of light [ɪn ðə dɑrk]). Not(not; used to negate a statement [nɑt]) in(indicating a location or point [ɪn]) the absolute dark(complete darkness; total absence of light [ðə ˈæbsəˌlut dɑrk]). But(conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement [bət]) almost(nearly; practically [ˈɔlˌmoʊst]) as(like; in the same way as [ɛz]) a cat(a feline animal [ə kæt]) sees(perceives with its eyes [siz]).
The sun(the star that provides light and warmth to the Earth [ðə sən]) and(a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) his(belonging to him [hɪz]) steady(constant; not fluctuating [ˈstɛdi]) movement(an act of changing physical location or position [ˈmuvmənt]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) his(belonging to him [hɪz]) fingers(the digits of the hand [ˈfɪŋgərz]) had uncramped(had relieved from a cramp or spasm [hæd uncramped]) his(belonging to him [hɪz]) left hand(the hand on the left side of the body [lɛft hænd]) now(at the present time [naʊ]) completely(totally; entirely [kəmˈplitli]) and(a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) he(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) began(started [bɪˈgæn]) to shift(to move or transfer [tɪ ʃɪft]) more(a greater amount or degree [mɔr]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) the strain(a force tending to cause deformation or damage [ðə streɪn]) to(preposition indicating direction or purpose [tɪ]) it(referring to the left hand [ɪt]) and(a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) he(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) shrugged(raised (the shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference [ʃrəgd]) the muscles(bodily tissues consisting of contractile cells or fibers that affect movement of an organ or part of the body [ðə ˈməsəlz]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) his(belonging to him [hɪz]) back(the posterior part of the human body extending from the shoulders to the hips [bæk]) to shift(to move or transfer [tɪ ʃɪft]) the hurt(the pain or injury [ðə hərt]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) the cord(a length of twisted or woven together strands [ðə kɔrd]) a little(a small amount [ə ˈlɪtəl]).
''If(Conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical situation [ɪf]) you're(Contraction of 'you are' [jʊr]) not tired(Feeling no need for rest or sleep [nɑt taɪərd]), fish(Addressing the fish [fɪʃ]),'' he(The man [hi]) said(Spoke [sɛd]) aloud(In a voice loud enough to be heard [əˈlaʊd]), ''you(The fish [ju]) must be(Expressing necessity or obligation [məst bi]) very strange(Unusual or odd [ˈvɛri streɪnʤ]).''
He(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) felt(experienced through sensation [fɛlt]) very tired(in need of rest or sleep [ˈvɛri taɪərd]) now(at the present time [naʊ]) and(a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) he(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) knew(was aware of [nu]) the night(the period from sunset to sunrise [ðə naɪt]) would come(was going to arrive [wʊd kəm]) soon(in or after a short time [sun]) and(a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) he(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) tried(made an attempt or effort to do something [traɪd]) to think(to use one's mind actively to form connected ideas [tɪ θɪŋk]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) other things(different or additional matters [ˈəðər θɪŋz]). He(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) thought(had an opinion or belief; considered [θɔt]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) the Big Leagues(the major professional sports leagues [ðə bɪg ligz]), to(preposition expressing direction or purpose [tɪ]) him(the male person previously mentioned [ɪm]) they(referring to the Big Leagues [ðeɪ]) were(past tense of 'are' [wər]) the Gran Ligas(Spanish for 'the Big Leagues' [ðə græn ˈlaɪgəz]), and(a conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) he(the male person previously mentioned [hi]) knew(was aware of [nu]) that(conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]) the Yankees(a professional baseball team [ðə ˈjæŋkiz]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) New York(a city in the United States [nu jɔrk]) were playing(were engaged in a game against [wər pleɪɪŋ]) the Tigres(Spanish for 'the Tigers', a professional baseball team [ðə tigres]) of(preposition indicating relationship or belonging [əv]) Detroit(a city in the United States [ˈdiˌtrɔɪt]).
This(refers to something near or present [ðɪs]) is(present tense form of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]) the second day(the day after the first day; the next day in a sequence [ðə ˈsɛkənd deɪ]) now(at the present time; currently [naʊ]) that(introduces a clause [ðət]) I(the speaker or writer [aɪ]) do not know(to lack knowledge or understanding of something [du nɑt noʊ]) the result(the outcome or consequence of something [ðə rɪˈzəlt]) of the juegos(of the games (Spanish [əv ðə juegos]), he thought(indicates the character's internal thought [hi θɔt]). But(introduces a contrasting statement [bət]) I must have(indicates obligation or necessity [aɪ məst hæv]) confidence(the feeling of self-assurance and belief in one's abilities or qualities [ˈkɑnfədɛns]) and(connects two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) I must be(indicates obligation or necessity to be something [aɪ məst bi]) worthy(deserving respect, admiration, or support [ˈwərði]) of(expressing the relationship between two things [əv]) the great DiMaggio(referring to the famous baseball player Joe DiMaggio [ðə greɪt dɪˈmæʤiˌoʊ]) who(introduces a relative clause [hu]) does(performs an action [dɪz]) all things(every action or task [ɔl θɪŋz]) perfectly(in a flawless manner [ˈpərfəktli]) even with(despite or in spite of [ˈivɪn wɪθ]) the pain(physical suffering or discomfort [ðə peɪn]) of(expressing the relationship between two things [əv]) the bone spur(a bony growth that forms on normal bone [ðə boʊn spər]) in his heel(located in the back part of the foot [ɪn hɪz hil]). What(used to ask for information about something [wət]) is(present tense form of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]) a bone spur(a bony growth that forms on normal bone [ə boʊn spər])? he asked himself(indicates the character's internal question [hi æst hɪmˈsɛlf]). Un espuela de hueso(A bone spur (Spanish [ˈjuˈɛn espuela də hueso]). We(refers to a group including the speaker [wi]) do not have(to lack possession of something [du nɑt hæv]) them(referring to bone spurs [ðɛm]). Can(used to express possibility or ability [kən]) it(refers to the bone spur [ɪt]) be(used to indicate a state or condition [bi]) as painful(to the same degree of pain [ɛz ˈpeɪnfəl]) as(used to make comparisons [ɛz]) the spur(a sharp object worn on a rider's heel and used to urge on a horse [ðə spər]) of(expressing the relationship between two things [əv]) a fighting cock(a rooster trained for cockfighting [ə ˈfaɪtɪŋ kɑk]) in one's heel(located in the back part of the foot [ɪn wənz hil])? I(the speaker or writer [aɪ]) do not think(to lack belief or opinion [du nɑt θɪŋk]) I could endure(to be able to withstand or tolerate something [aɪ kʊd ɪnˈdʊr]) that(referring to the pain of a cock's spur [ðət]) or(used to connect alternatives [ər]) the loss(the act or instance of losing something [ðə lɔs]) of(expressing the relationship between two things [əv]) the eye(the organ of sight [ðə aɪ]) and(connects two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) of(expressing the relationship between two things [əv]) both eyes(two eyes [boʊθ aɪz]) and(connects two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) continue(to persist or keep doing something [kənˈtɪnju]) to fight(to engage in a physical struggle [tɪ faɪt]) as(in the same way or manner as [ɛz]) the fighting cocks(roosters trained for cockfighting [ðə ˈfaɪtɪŋ kɑks]) do(used to refer back to a verb already mentioned [du]). Man(human being [mæn]) is not much(not significant or important [ɪz nɑt məʧ]) beside(compared to [ˌbiˈsaɪd]) the great birds and beasts(large or impressive animals and birds [ðə greɪt bərdz ənd bists]). Still(nevertheless; despite that [stɪl]) I would rather be(expresses preference [aɪ wʊd ˈrəðər bi]) that beast(referring to an animal [ðət bist]) down there(in that place; below [daʊn ðɛr]) in(expressing location or position [ɪn]) the darkness(the state of being dark or without light [ðə ˈdɑrknəs]) of(expressing the relationship between two things [əv]) the sea(the ocean [ðə si]).