Faded

xxxv

At my first sailing lesson,

You,

You were there.

You seemed

To be alone

But made no effort to

Talk to us.

Out on the Lake

At Wild Cherry Park

Is wonderful.

The wind always

Breathes on my face

And I can hear sounds of

The water all around me.

Every time the bar swings over

My head I

Have to duck and

Switch sides in the boat.

My hands clasp ropes and the rudder

All the time.

And I sailed like

I had done it all before.

The group was taught how to

Circle the islands that are dotted

Around like they were dropped there

By accident.

I only fell in a few

Times and only

Got shouted at once by

The instructor for jumping

Onto the sail when I capsized.

I'm sure you were

Watching me embarrass myself.

Later, Will took me

Behind the beautiful trees next to the lake,

We kissed.

And although it isn't what I am desperate for,

It's nice all the same.

Maybe love is like one of the Islands:

Waiting for two hearts

To crash

And meet on the shores.

By fate or not,

They meet all the same.

They always have the two boats,

From which they came,

To travel home with.

We must all decide whether

To sail home separately or

Stay.

(Found behind the trees next to the lake at Wild Cherry Park)