OUT ON THE RIVER

“Me, I prefer a rotor

connected to a motor

to something with a sail

slower than a whale,

not even half as big.

To hell with a rag rig.”

Of course we know ’tis meant

less than an argument.

We know he only means

that when somebody cleans

the carburetor, greases

the lower unit, pleases

or sees fit to arrange

a spark plug to change,

and whole does not relent

to be its parts and spent,

and wind and wave’s fair duel

does not end in no fuel,

explosion or a storm

reversion to kit form,

he doesn’t need to hope

maraconi has a rope, and …

when elements agree

boating isn’t free,

he’d do the same for me.

For man is bound to man

and neighbor bound to neighbor

by more than labor.