Stillness of the Harbor

The stillness of an early morning harbor

caresses the spirit of boats afloat.

Whispering gulls echo in the far distance

and this could be any marina.

The ships clock tells me its 5 AM

and the Sun is barley breaking on the horizon.

Early morning radio broadcasts the News

and the eggs are in a deep fry.

Nowhere is there a better life to be aboard

away from the city streets

or small towns where my feet ached

and the drinks from seedy bars

brought me into a drunk stupor every night.

No vibrations of buddies

or prostitutes looking to make some money

I was finally alone.

Now, how do I describe the unplugging

and what rained upon me?

The gentle peace and calm of the water

Made me see the things I did wrong.

The tours of duty

and all the people I massacred for country

brought horrendous tears to my eyes

painful extrusions of water

I waited so long to cry out loud.

My fatherless journey that branded me

making me a failure to my own kids.

The stillness is what almost killed me

but I had to be here.

Finding and grinding out your miseries

can save you a ticket with suicide.

Releasing the tears of guilt and shame

make you a survivor.

No- no one threw me a life ring

I had to do this all on my own for sure.

Now, it won’t change a thing

cause the kids will always hate me, but

at least I don’t hate myself anymore.

I found the sea and the gulls flying around me

to give me a new lease on life.

I found a woman who takes me as I am

and her love has enrichen me.

I never knew that life could be so beautiful

almost a paradise

when you clear the way to the heart.

The stillness of the early morning harbor …