Thanksgiving poems—from gratitude to the table. This one has its share of both. At least we thought so, despite the presence of a ferry and gulls.
North on the Illahee Ferry
So there you are, where you wanted to be.
I can imagine the Seattle city pier falling away
behind you. Herring gulls wheel along their wires,
reflections shattering in the ferry wake. You lean out
over the swell, caught by blue distance, and when
the cold finds its way onto the deck, plunder a pocket
for an orange and break the body into crescent-shaped
pieces brought in a wooden cage over the pass
from their God-hung green night. Teeth tear membrane
as the coastline recedes. North is sudden and near,
the final island before dark. Urgently the senses surge
toward Texas, parts south where an orchard yields
the finite sun over and over again, where once
someone loved you. Swallow what reminds you of home.
What’s held in both hands and the limitless motion
you longed for and only dimly understand—love,
the same thing sustains them, the vastness
that’s kept you and indeed everyone on the vessel afloat.
And at this table where a letter has reached us,
is being read and reread, we are nearly present on the boat,
when both citrus and the salt season the moment.
—Anne M. Doe Overstreet, from Delicate Machinery Suspended
Photo by Nosha, Creative Commons license via Flickr.
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Maureen Doallas says
Lovely poem from a collection of marvelous poems.
SimplyDarlene says
That last line is a splendid wowzer.
Happy ThanksGiving TweetSpeakers.
Blessings.
Anne Doe-Overstreet says
I’m going to steal ‘splendid wowzer’…!
Anne Doe-Overstreet says
As we opened the door to our guests on Thursday, a breath of salt-laden air crept in behind them, settled beneath the table. Plenty. And tomorrow we will hand out the brightness of satsumas and look out the window, imagining the broader world. A good holiday. Thanks for sharing it with me.