The Boat Poem by Jim Yerman

I like to think of family by visualizing a boat
with one family all together as on the sea they float.

Every family's boat is different in size and shape and form
It's a place where we learn of love and happiness
and find safety from the storms.

As babies….under motor or with its sails unfurled
this boat is all we know…this boat is our whole world.

As we grow a little older we can see while we're afloat
there are many other ships upon the water…
that we are not the only boat.

We make friends with other boaters…
friendships our parents happily promote.
knowing everyone at the end of the day
returns to the safety of their own boat.

But as we grow still older…as we move from year to year
we take on more boating responsibilities…
and sometimes we even get to steer.

Until the day we're given our own boat
and with a mix of sadness, hope and glee
We thank our parents as we set sail
alone…upon the sea.

Then sometime while we're sailing
we never know where or when
we have our own family on our ship
and the cycle begins again…

And we are happy sailing this way
because we know where our parents boat is moored…
and we know they are always willing
to welcome us aboard.