Blessing the boats

(at St. Mary's)

may the tide

that is entering even now

the lip of our understanding

carry you out

beyond the face of fear

may you kiss

the wind then turn from it

certain that it will

love your back   
may you

open your eyes to water

water waving forever

and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that

Lucille Clifton

(Picture: Flower clouds, Odilon Redon)

it was a dream

in which my greater self

rose up before me

accusing me of my life

with her extra finger

whirling in a gyre of rage

at what my days had come to.

what,

i pleaded with her, could i do,

oh what could i have done?

and she twisted her wild hair

and sparked her wild eyes

and screamed as long as

i could hear her

This.  This.  This.

Lucille Clifton

(Picture: Left hand with the index finger, Vasily Polenov)