some comedy, lonely as a boat
and wave after wave washes over me
with the weight of more than half the world
bound up in the sea

there’s a fire on the shore, and what’s more
a stranger’s eyes watch incredulously
my sails’ flap and flutter
hands on hips, don’t know her, could be anybody

digs her feet in the sand, calls out
“all your years have slept with despair!
come home now, there’s nothing out there!”
she’s graced with fair face and raging ragged smile

sunrise, and colors of the deep assemble
light up the emptiness of my nets
could this lost sailor dare dine with you?
sail home, sail home, lost and lonely boat

       (—1991)