Catching the breeze

The green of the sea and the blue of the sky

There is so much involved
To move along in a business-like manner.
The green of the sea and the blue of the sky.
The lines must be just so to tighten the sheets
Against the prevailing wind, or with it,
Run and tack, run and tack,
Then cut free to sail at the touch of the wind
The green of the sea and the blue of the sky,
The breeze in your face, the salt on your lips
The salt-spray kicking up from the prow.
The green of the sea and the blue of the sky.
Eyes on the sea; eyes on the sky
Watch for ships; watch for reefs
There is no break, except when at anchor
But for the sweet flow of the water
As the knife of the prow cuts the waves before us.

The green of the sea and the blue of the sky.

In a motorized boat, no matter the size
Or how expensive, or luxurious
We forge ahead, no concern for the breeze
Except how it presages the weather ahead.
For sure, you might look for the profile of other ships
Or rocks or coral reefs,
But no worry, as the ship churns its diesel fuel
And the screws dumbly propel the ship on its heading
Amid the smoke and vibration and noise
A good, solid blunt-instrument at sea.

The green of the sea and the blue of the sky.

But here under sail, the world is in harmony
The green of the sea and the blue of the sky
Sailing along with the flow of the sea
The green of the sea and the blue of the sky
As the sails tug and touch at the wind
And pull the boat forward
Toward our next port of call.

The green of the sea and the blue of the sky