sailing the old boat through the minquiers
around Jersey doing some sightseeing
danger all around, treacherous place to be
and now there’s a storm coming up
radio out Sparks? wonderful timing
rogue waves lurking
peril a-freshening
skies growing ominous gray; menacing
winds too many knots to count
at the wheel which is worthless
should have done more than
a cursory check of the lifeboat
abandoning ship a last resort
captain must go down with his ship they say
I seem to be forgetting that in this confusion
thought this boat might be a little too small
should have listened to the old mariner
between his sips of rum
mismatched apparel, scruffy beard and all
now the minutes pass like kidney stones
we’re being thrown around like a luggage
by angry airport baggage handlers
but then —- skies lighten and waves reduce
made it through without sinking
or hitting anything or anybody
a life at sea is a life for me
