Drifting Canoe Poem by Jan Freundschuh

I am looking for a captain for my boat!

You say I am doing fine, paddling my own canoe.

But I am trying to create a landing pad, to
Lure you to alight,
Trying to send out rays of magnetic pull,
Because I am not sure of this lake, this canoe,
This paddling.

But I am close to believing you:
That the lake will stay calm, (the rapids
Are behind me,) (you got me through) .

Can a lake stay calm forever?

Yet I know that this is true.
I can see the future! -it's
Calm all the way.
So why am I hanging back?

Is it loneliness?

No, I just cannot believe that this self-love will hold.
That the sun will not melt it,
The passing clouds not confuse me,
And wipe out all memory.

I feel too close to disappearing
To keep myself company.

If you don't come, we may have
An empty canoe,
Floating nowhere.

If you do come
I will stay a child.

Well, okay then, it's clear.
Though I know I will evaporate... the elements
Will beguile me.....

I must make peace with
Getting lost....
....I'll forget even
To notice,
That 'purpose' is long gone too.

I'll be a cloud.
Okay.
I'll rain on
Empty,
Drifting canoe.