Straightest Line Poem by gershon hepner

The ship that sails the straightest line
still sails the convex sea;
whenever we both intertwine
it’s your concavity
that lets my line, becoming straight,
sail forward in its course
beyond the gate that once was strait,
attracting you with force.

The course that’s straight may seem the shortest
when we are both together,
but soon we both long for a foretaste
of more, and wonder whether
we will enjoy it soon, or later,
immediately, or after
the line is once more long and straighter,
and then burst into laughter.

Inspired by a verse by John Boyle O’Reilly, who was introduced to me by Tomas de Faoite

At Best

The faithful helm commands the keel,
From port to port fair breezes blow;
But the ship must sail the convex sea,
Nor may she straighter go.

So, man to man; in fair accord,
On thought and will the winds may wait;
But the world will bend the passing word,
Though its shortest course be straight.

From soul to soul the shortest line
At best will bended be:
The ship that holds the straightest course
Still sails the convex sea.

4/5/06