Ferry To Lochaber Poem by Laurence Overmire

Sometimes the unexpected
Journey
Is as good or better
Than the hoped for
Arrival at a distant
Destination

The Caledonian MacBrayne
From Armadale to Mallaig
Made the going
From beautiful Skye
A sad parting to be sure
Memorable and pleasant

A full Scottish breakfast
Cooked with care by
Our Gaelic hostess
At 14 Camus Cross B&B
Put us on our way to
The ferryboat landing

A ticket to the taker, then
Driving aboard
The car parked in its
Vagabond space
We headed upstairs to the
Passenger deck

The sun rising boldly
Without obstruction
Sparkled on the water
Like a treasure chest of
Diamonds
Scattered across the wave

The peaks of Knoydart
Were hiding in the gray
Ghost-like haze
Of morning
As we cast off from our
Mooring

Bands of golden light
Streamed through the windows
Spilling
In kaleidoscope patterns
On the dining tables
Where we kicked back

To relax

Armadale Castle bid us
Farewell
Calling from the shore
Getting smaller and smaller
As the vessel made its way
On its 30 minute sail

The bow of the boat
Outside on the deck
Offered a blast of spray
And cold, fresh air
Full in the face and
Through the hair

Gripping
A cup of coffee
Freshly brewed and
Steaming hot
Kept the hands warm
All the while

As we looked around
There was
On the face of each fellow
Passenger
The hint of a smile
An unmistakable

Inner contentment

Such moments
Are rare
But necessary
We collect them as we may
Take them in and
Cherish them

Too short, too soon
The journey ends
Packing up our responsibilities
We, denizens of the world, head
Back down the stairs
Into our cars

Start our engines

And off we go...

~ Laurence Overmire

(Previously published in The Ghost of Rabbie Burns: An American Poet's Journey Through Scotland, Indelible Mark Publishing,2016)