Out sailing

Side note : "Rhode Island Statehood Day" is May 29th, which also happens to be JFK's birthday.  (& see NY Times article, where the photo appears.)

AMERICA’S CUP

An Ocean State sky, color

of sleep or turtledove

today.  Don’t move,

let the wind speak.  Late summer

mandorla of ripenings –

a little boat in your hand.

John off Rhode Island,

lounging, relaxed.  Bare shins

& feet propped up against gunnel.

Good book on deck,

half-moon of wooden oarlock

framing calm harbor.  Sea-knell

through the photo (Pietà).

When we go back to the sea,

whether to sail or to watch... we

are going back from whence we came.

America’s Cup... can you drink it with me?

The Round Table, the Lady

in the Lake... a malady

in the Grail (of all humanity).

One raven-prong drills through the human.

Black Sea sunlight rays

from the depths.  Maximus

with one hand frames the circle’s rim :

one sail traces its catenary arc

along a thread of fleece.

Ariadne’s peace, which

passeth fathom five... Mark.

9.13.15

JFK sailing, ca. 1950s