You sit silently
water teases
bumping against
your hull
a few more moments
rest
preparing for a dance with the waves
and then like the rooster that crows at dawn,
the captain shouts the order:
“unleash the mainsail,
ready the ropes from mooring
raise our standard,
let the sun have her glorious moment”
colors dance and flutter as the breeze grasps sepia sails
the sun smiles, ” yes, the perfect day to set out”
I remember too well
days when the sun-kissed my face
and the breeze snapped at my hair
like a bubble the topsails float free
sailors amble down the ropes
upturned faces meet the day in an “ahhh”
more billowing white than brown
as the captain tugs at the wheel
“yes, my lady, it is time to fly”
he grasps the smooth wood like a lover
he feels her tug back, “I am ready,” she whispers
free from her mooring, she lets the wind pull her about
sailor’s legs are eager to feel the motion of the sea
white meets blue in a halo of reflections
tears pool as my heart wants to grasp at freedom
a tug of war with spirit and earth
as the sails reach to the sea
she glides toward open water
I am glad for the reminder
one day I too will leave the mooring of life
releasing billowing sails to the winds beyond
gliding freely with the captain of my ship to open waters
“Tis the set of the sail that decides the goal, and not the storms of life.”
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
4 he makes his messengers winds,
his ministers a flaming fire.
Psalms 104: 1-4
penned in moon dust 