The Beating Heart

A thousand streamers in the wind
More streamers in the water
Mooring lines released

The engine has a heart
Ninety beats each minute
Pulse… pulse… pulse… pulse
Alive

Reaching for the old teak rail
Inviting contemplation
Calm ocean laps along the hull
Fish scatter sea gulls dive

Mountains of green water
Bow buried
Heart shudders
All stop, bow rises

Gazing from the crow’s nest
Blue dome above, blue disc below
Streamers still connected