On A Wooden Sailboat Poem by RIC BASTASA

now we shall try riding on a wooden sailboat
to cross this river
it will just be the two of us
with me paddling
and you simply sitting there

the river is still
as my paddle creates the ripples
the sky is reddish
this afternoon and soon it will be dark

you will light our way
as i paddle towards the other end
where they are all waiting
we do not talk much now
we love this silence that wraps us
this silence in another place
this newness
that blooms again

i look at you with anticipation
tonight the room shall only be lighted
with an oil lamp
we shall hear the crickets
and the frogs near the pond
and some birds with strange sounds

some love calls
the mating season has just begun
we have no time to watch
what the other creatures of this far place are doing
we have ourselves now

i will blow the lamp's flickers out
goodnight
we are starting all over again
dreaming

as you take me in your arms
i will remember some quivers
of long time ago
as though i do not know what to do

this is magical
love still exists so well in this darkness faraway from everyone