the captain
the captain does everything
with a gentle precision
an attention to detail that shows
in the way he moves his hands
the way he checks the lines
we’re floating on Lake Martin
talking about Tolstoy and mountains
and the best way to react
when you’re hit by an unexpected gust
he tells me to drop everything
stop trying to control it
and the boat will right itself
later the conversation shifts
to other kinds of storms
I say to the captain
in my experience
all you can do is keep moving
gather the people you need
stop trying to control it
and the boat will right itself
6 April 2013
Auburn AL
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