Windward

Listen to what the air
is saying tonight

my friend, you’ve
been ashore a long

while, the time
for your sail

to fill is here.
We’re standing on

the verge with you,
take our arms

we’ll lift you into
this boat

you’ve been building
your whole life:

the beam-ends are
lined with your labor,

the arc of visibility
is clear,

everything that ever
was awaits you at sea.

Tell it to us when
we arrive

in due time, in ships
you taught us to sail.

John Freeman