There she is, leaning over the edge
Of the huge cruise ship, out
Like the rest of us,
To pretend life can stand still for a moment
While we enjoy a moment of peace.
I see her there, and I can tell,
That all is not well with her.
She leans over, closes her eyes,
Reaches out, over the metal guard,
Feeling the breeze...
I know her--though I don't know her name.
She is well worn with the cares of this life
Burdened with weights only she knows--
Yet I see her there, and I can tell
That she and I...we share the cares of life.
She wipes what I presume to be a tear from her face--
Or perhaps moves a stray hair so she can see more clearly.
The waters are beautiful here. And everyone but me,
Elsewhere for once. A rare moment of solitude,
If I'm not counted in the equation of it all.
She doesn't turn around until we both hear them--
Voices from behind us, shrieks and laughter,
Her family is coming to greet her.
A young girl runs to her and tugs on her hand,
A young man and her husband (?) follow with smiles.
She warmly greets them, they can't see her wipe
What remains of the tears with a quick sweep
Of her forearm across her cheek...this isn't the first
Time she's had to hide it from them.
They wouldn't understand, not really.
I see her come away from the sea, then,
Walking with the stride of the little one,
Holding the child's hand very tightly, chiding her
About running about on the ship unaccompanied.
I can tell she loves them all dearly.
But when she turns, in the midst of a stride,
To look back at the place where she was, and the sea,
I see her face--her eyes, and the look in them--
And I see the unscripted story of what was lost.
I know her, for she is me, looking at the sea.
