Playing Fair and Being Kind

I’ve been thinking of old friends in recent months. Gaining new acquaintances and losing old friends. I have concluded that we are all like ships passing at night. I’ve seen my share. My Navy career included nearly 18 years of sea duty; blue water sailing. Out of sight of land most of the time. Atlantic, Pacific, through the Panama Canal. Lots of sea duty and time spent looking at the ocean and seeing ships passing. This is about those friends and those ships.
Peace,
G. M. Goodwin
7 November 2017

PASSING IN THE DARK

Staring is not impolite in this case,
It is what we do and they know it,
Take a good look, remember me, please,
I want you to take a good look,
Because we may never meet again.

At first sight there is a racing of the heart,
Who is it and where are they going?
The news travels fast,
Up from inside and onto the bridge come others,
New York, Baltimore, Boston?

No messages are passed, nothing said,
Just a long and steady noticing,
A long and steady watching,
Course and speed and guessed destination,
And of course, where from.

Like those we meet on land where staring is not polite,
Caution, shyness, curiosity,
You can look but don’t stare,
Notice and remember,
Give them a glimpse too.

Who are you? Indeed, who am I?
Where am I going?
And where have I been?
Where will I be? New York, Baltimore, Boston?
I have been traveling forever.

I will leave you a message that you may recognize,
So you may remember me,
Meanwhile, I may get to see you, see past the disguise,
I want you to enjoy a safe voyage and
Travel on the seas of adventure.

Farewell, Sailor,
Smooth seas and fair winds,
One hand for you and one for the ship,
Keep a weather eye, as they say,
Farewell, Sailor.

G. M. Goodwin

7 November 2017