Steel Water

 

So much is now known, my love

 

Your hand upon your chair

 

Your gaze focused on the distance

 

So much is now known my love and yet

 

So much remains unclear.

 

 

 

Often you left to roam so great an unknown

 

Your hand upon my hair

 

Your gaze focused on my face to memorize every trace.

 

Often you left me to make

 

Known the unknown.

 

 

 

Weeping and lonely through

 

Child-birth and longing you left me.

 

Your hand upon the great wooden wheel

 

Your feet firmly planted on waves of fresh water steel,

 

So much is now known.

 

 

 

Every piece of land only an inlet or peninsula

 

The creak and moan of our home just a reminder of

 

Launch and storm.

 

Buffeted by wind and ice, your back straighter

 

Only I am frailer.

 

 

 

Now sit upon your chair

 

Less weathered than mine.

 

You sit and gaze upon fresh water, fine sand

 

And sip wine.

 

So much, my love, is now known, but who am I?

 

 

 

Slowly you approach, your hand slides along the small of my back.

 

“You are the steel water, you are my sight

 

You are my freedom, my longing, my right

 

To sail the fresh water.

 

Come to me, my love, and make yourself known.”

 

Sandra K. Woodiwiss 2012