Autumn Cruise

The island lays there
Dead ahead a feathery thing
Indistinct against a sharp horizon
Occasioned by light dry north winds

The sea a swell of easy long period just enough to
Dump air from the sails from time to time
Relegating boat speed To a bit short of nil

Autumn's stable flys have arrived
Time for complete coverage in spite
Of a warm and sunny day
They'll be with me till the wind freshens

Five miles offshore the wind
is no longer held back by the land
Strong enough now to overcome
The swell now a surge of lifting
A long gentle hobby horse

The jib rattles its irritation
At my inattention as I leave
The boat to its own devices
to write this piece
Such is the last cruise of Autumn




Poetry by josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 623 times
Written on 2015-09-22 at 18:21

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


countryfog
It is interesting that we each have our different place, yours the sea and mine the prairie about as far from the sea as possible, and yet you have the gift not of bringing your place to me but of bring me to it. The difference is neither subtle nor semantics . . . it is art.
2015-09-23


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
It sounds very satisfying.
2015-09-22


shells
It was well worth leaving the boat to its own devices, great nautical piece.
2015-09-22



See, I knew that fantastic sailing trip would inspire you. Beautiful poem that captures a season and the lure of the sea.
2015-09-22