Night thoughts

Ships passing in the night: a cliche, 

And obviously my camera couldn’t find 

Its focus in the dark, so I can only share 

The brightness and the color, 

Not the texture — the lifeboats, 

And all the tiny windows

 (Though I’ve never understood 

How it can be all lit up like that 

At 3 am, when all the folks aboard 

 Are sleeping, as I wish I were…). 

But of course the crew are awake, and busy 

Preparing for their return to port, 

Rounding up the luggage, making breakfast, 

And guiding the ship home through smoky seas. 

And I could bet some passenger, like me,

 Is wide awake and staring out their window 

Into the night, worrying about the challenges 

Awaiting them when they return to land, 

And wishing it were easier to fall asleep again…

 Perhaps they, too, crawl back in bed 

And say a prayer for all who work,

 Or watch, or weep this night.