#227 Stand And Stare Poem by Jimmie Arrington

On auto drive I climb spiral stairs,
Grasping the guardrail as I go.
Through small windows I see the glares
Of the boat’s fading glow.

I see fierce tides rise and crash,
Tossing the boat with ease.
I see rain pour and lightning flash
Within a hurricane breeze.

Still I keep moving, higher and higher,
My brain out running my feet.
Urgently trying to kindle the fire
With swift steps and rapid heartbeat.

The boat shrinks every time I look,
The light continues to dim.
Just like a fish caught on a hook,
It’s much too late to swim.

Exhausted, I finally reach the top
Of my lighthouse by the sea.
I’m drenched with sweat and harsh raindrops
As I fear what eyes might see.

In the distance, I spot it there,
With two people paddling fast.
All I can do is stand and stare
At a boat so small and a sea so vast.

The rowers row and the swells swell,
The larger will inevitably win.
It’s hard to watch but easy to tell
What was will never be again.

With strained eyes, I dab at tears,
I can’t see the light anymore.
My blue heart sinks, for it appears
They’ll never return to shore.