Watrerfront Watch

smoke, sky trails.
the tug turns, squirms,
then steers upriver.
the wheat has to move.
but with all that commotion,
you’d think a warship was out there.

today no sun.
the somber air is thick.
I watch a gull poke blood thirsty
into the glistening waves.
in life nothing dies easy.

we lost anchor.
began to churn, drift, hit rocks.
when the hull split what could we do
but watch our ship reach bottom.

today, dockside,
the fresh air feels good.
I feel lucky,
crowned with a good spirit.
I like the  gravelly sky.
it gives me a sprightly bounce.
scrubs my insides clean.

I flash on a red skirt straight ahead.
those shiny buttons turn towards me.
stop me in my tracks.
they're a deliberate kiss.
our eyes meet. our thoughts crisscross.
she laughs, curls her lips.
what a great smile.
I'm lifted.
ah yes. the face of love.
I see it.
I smell pasta.
yeah, I'm back