the ferryman knows his own life
is rich with incident
his paper boat, creased and folded
and he at the helm
cockeyed from staring at lovers
their haul of picnic baskets
his own palms worn thin
with the exchange of coins
his oar all dip and pull, the sweet
drag of water and always
returning, the bare-footed ones
who miss nothing
who no longer expect
the arrival of others
the ferryman rubs his eyes
a penny for each of them
the swan unfolds
the huge breathing of water
Frankie McMillian (1950- Christchurch, New Zealand)
Source: http://www.sweetmammalian.com/#!frankie-mcmillan/c14w3
Image cover: Weedeater, 2016 (a film on Nance Klehm, by Eden Batki, Marty Windahl, and Amy von Harrington)