Still Water
Prose Poems
Copyright @ 1989 by Arthur Garfunkel
ISBN 0-525-24795-5
Used by persmission of Author - All Rights Reserved
32
Jeff takes me down to the
bottom of the ship.
There, amid the massive turbine, the reduction
gears, the great propeller shaft—
Thirty-five thousand horses are pulling a
guided tour.
The young apprentice stands on the keel and
I am here to learn;
I feel his need of our script to succeed.
I see in the eyes the fear of concern.
He has taken the reins of the foreman's role
with his first fragile grip;
I cast for clues—a tip—
the slightly trembling upper lip,
the fish beneath the ship
a foot below our shoes.
Atlantic crossingJuly 1984