The Dream of the Sailor

Painting by David Cochran
Poetry by Rick Mobbs
Linebreaks by Glenn Buttkus


the dream of the sailor


The black cats arrange themselves
in pairs by starlight,
on polished black marble
by a black lapping sea.
They bow to each other —
yes, they stand upright –
and wait till the band leader clicks,
one, two, three….
The dance begins gracefully,
with great formality,
under the stars,
on polished black marble,
by the sea.

Where are the trees?
There are no trees,
only shadows between stars
and the rising sigh.
This is the dream of a sailor
alone in a small boat,
asleep under canvas
on a calm, endless sea.

The wind takes a photograph
from his fingers;
the ocean erases a name
from his memory.

Rick Mobbs September 2008