Oh captain, my captain

And in the storm, we stayed.
Wind in a sail, I steered the course
Tendrils of hair the ropes, my lips the ships wheel.
North Star, sailors lore, here I was in the brine and busk and frothy, galloping waves

And you, rounded belly of the ship,
Dependable rudder.
Strong, straight and sure the masts and the line of your shoulders, neck taut, rigging of the jaw.

And we set sail, fingers netted together
the sounds of an ocean alive crashing around us