Steady, As Water
spring ice-out
the long lingered
goodbye-ing
dusky dockside
bar
Through
air the color of the pigeons swimming in it (sulfur, foundry, tannery, coalpile,
salt) and light as much from furnaces as from fluorescence in this backwater corner
of a blackwater harbor, drunk with old wine and new love, the second mate
swings up on deck; sleeps there. Tomorrow, there’ll be a farther horizon and,
perhaps, a soaring bird without a name.
port-of-call
two perfumed letters
one from his wife
Sparse
beard, watch-cap affectation, misfit among misfits, trickless coyote, would-be
lone wolf, would-be sea dog; living and hating his dream, loving and hating its
crew. A woman here and there. The threat of security, the security of the
unknown. Another day on the inland
sea. Another season. The laughing gulls circling.
winter lay-up
irregular gait of sailors
friendly front street pub
~ Ralph Murre
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