When were you last in a place like this:
a gigantic, rocking, aching, smelly
construction trawling across the water?
Has it been a year?
Has it been ten?

Good gods, has it been ten?
You think you might not have walked upon a boat like this
in many many years.
But then, what would call you
across the water in this way?

What excellent offers are proffered before you
to incentivize your voyage?
You cannot say
for as a seer once spoke:
“If you say the wish out loud,
it won’t come true.”
And anyway, no one else would care.
But you’re sure that treasures indeed
will be found for the taking.

So off you go:
a middle-aged man across the water
and you can see fairly well
to where you’re going to.