Living my own life

 Living my own life

Standing on the bow of the Queen of Surrey,

Inhaling the shifting grays, blues, and greens of the early fall on Horseshoe Bay,

Sea, sky, mountains, islands, and forest arise.

Struck by the scene, struck by the seam - this my life.

Been treading water

waiting for the epilogue

waiting for the start

waiting opening night

 

Decades treading water

waiting for the lifting fog

waiting for the rent-to-own

waiting for the cure

Exhausting treading water

waiting for the mystery solved

waiting for the big day

waiting for the muse

someone, someone please press start

Standing on the ferry's bow,

This breath belongs to me. 

Not by fluke, not by con, not by deal. It is mine.

Many hands lifted me; many backs I'd climbed, many fields played in my favour. 

But one instant is mine. This lifetime mine.

This visage from the ferry, I now know, is my own.

My victories, my joys, my gasp of wonder. Perhaps always, but struck this moment.

Not in spite of my messes but from choices made and steps taken.

Oh yes, regrets as well. I retain them too. Oh, yes.

Utterly unexpected - this moment on water that belongs.