THE RAIN
That was the summer I learned to sail
best pit bitch on the Bay
trim the jib, ease the cunningham
racing fierce in a 20 foot boat
I learned to tie a bowline
a clove hitch
a half hitch
knotted from the inside out
My undiscovered gift was reading the wind
seeing it travel
counting down the seconds until it touched my skin
lifted the sail
Dark water, rippling
stippling the tops of waves
cat’s paws and
unexpected shifts
I watched it come
It was the summer of your black eye
Your second affair
my blind eye
back turned on self respect
Civilized conversation with the mistress
on her couch
discussing you like she had a right
like she was a person, too
Not just the masthead
on our sinking ship