Linda Lerner

takes a tall ship & two lovers
rollicking in each other

couldn’t figure out, could you, why
i was so drawn to those tall ships
so eager to see if they could actually make it
in today’s waters
i stood transfixed by the East river
my old Brooklyn Heights haunt & ours once
stood by the railing watching a few sail in
& had to tell you as soon as...
next day in my new neighborhood by the Hudson
24 i counted along with the crowd as they sailed by
describing it to you later;

on my wall is
a recent photo i took of you in my living room
here in TriBeCa...kept staring at it,
but when i shut my eyes or
turned away you were back/
in Brooklyn Heights in Jersey Boston DC
in the then/ now of us...
back & forth in my mind
like some copy/ paste computer thing
i couldn’t stop

& all weekend the ships...

i boarded the Equador
& on Sunday saw them leave,
never any difficulty navigating these waters,
same they were in a century ago

do you see how it is, my love?
i am answering
what you never asked & i
this moment realized:
so simple, like each time

you take me in your strong arms
& zip me back a decade