Chief Engineer of the S.S. Arelia

in the riveted womb
he listened to
the idea of the ocean, 
the weight of a teeming saline dream
arching round
and round.

on pendulum wire 
the bare bulb looped
shadows down and up the room.
motors and gyros turned in turn
tug boats nuzzled the waterline bow.
the Arelia swung loose.

in the riveted womb
his old bones moved	 
to dial the turns
of the engine room
as they parted the harbor
and parted the past-
the man and the ship and sea.


Contents
Home page