Sailing Classes 

it’s when next month meets today, 

and you put your plans on paper. 

hoping ink and records 

can solidify your dreams. 

they won’t. 

but they will cause you to think, 

and wonder. 

and move. 

forward, towards peace. 

just believe, 

the wind will soon hit your sails, 

and you’ll be off – navigating high seas. 

maybe alone, 

but you’ve got it. 

you just don’t realize it. 

I bought you sailing classes, 

before I knew you had written, 

every hope you’ve ever had. 

I just wanted you to see, 

how easy 

it was gonna be, 

that you could move forward with ease. 

I wanted you to know, 

“you’ve got this with a little practice.” 

but you skipped the classes, 

felt it better to learn on your own. 

I asked: “do you need some help?” 

“No, it’s important I do this myself.” 

I warned that it was dangerous for you 

to give it a go alone, 

but was proud too. 

proud of the fact that solitude

wasn’t a fear for you 

and you could go the distance, 

without assistance. 

I was proud of you, 

when you set sail and said, 

“I’ll be ok. trust me.” 

I didn’t, 

but I believed in you. 

I wanted you to know: 

“I installed a radio, 

that only I can hear 

in case you need company 

when your sails fail 

and you take on water. 

There’s another one, 

a general purpose one. 

but before you give up, 

try mine. 

I’ll be on the radio 

when the sails break 

and you take on water. 

promising, 

“you’re ok.” 

if the sinking doesn’t cease, 

I will fashion my arms into helicopter blades, 

follow your coordinates 

and be the rescue mission 

you didn’t want.

I’ll call the coast guard 

“I’ve got it. 

you can stand down.” 

I know if you needed to be saved, 

you wouldn’t accept anything, 

and rather float alone, 

then send out a mayday 

and admit defeat. 

I was proud of you when you sank, 

and used my radio to tell me, 

“thank you, 

for allowing me 

to dream 

even if 

it’s 

what caused me 

to 

sink.” 

I was proud of you, 

when you didn’t care.