Ships Over Troubled Water

Watching the ocean as one watches their reflection

He watches ships pass

Giants over water, impossibly huge to

Move that fast.

They are hulking, bulky, and -

In his experience -

When something feels that large and useless,

It tends to stay very still.

They move too easily and

The sight sets his heart too fast.

 

He wonders if the sand

Ever gets caught up in the motors.

He wonders if they ever ask the ocean her permission before setting sail,

If they ever used to do that in the olden days.

He doesn't know when -

Just “the olden days”.

It all blurs into one, the past.

 

He wonders if they respected her

Before filling her body with

Bitter, hateful grease.

She is stuffed full of litter and waste

Every inch is plastic bags and oil when

She was already poison to drink.

 

He wonders if she holds a grudge or

If she knows how to forgive.

 

(Not that it would make a difference to the ships.

They would still sail.)