Seagull
the guy
with him
called him
“Bill”
“Scoot over Bill,” he said
and Bill scooted over
to let the girls aboard
and the girls glanced at Bill
and saw he had no teeth
that his body was that of a boy
and his face was that of a man
and his eyes were that of an old, old man
stuck in a body that did not fit the fire,
the fire in his belly
and when it was Bill’s turn
to strap on the safety belts
he met no eye
he just stood there
staring at the white bow of the boat
waiting for his feet to lift
from the white
and as his feet dangled in air
his smile was newborn
his eyes without sea
his heavy mind at ease
just him and the breeze
gliding over an ocean
and the minutes weren’t long enough
not nearly
like the rope
that reeled him back
to the bow
TL