#1 Fishing Days

First crack of dawn,
warm golden sunrays slowly
lift a thick layer of fog and
gently push it out of the bay.

I sit at the boat and watch as
a long column of cars
crosses the bridge,
like a slow weaving snake,
and slithers into the harbor.

Dozens of people rush to the dock
carrying totes full of ice, fish bellies and beer.
I check the worn engine,
turn the ignition key
the silver propellers whirr.

My old, grumpy captain is finally here
dressed in his favorite coffee-stained shirt.
I slip on my slick, stinky orange gloves
look up and see downy, white curls
dreamily hovering across the blue sky
and pray for the seas to be smooth.

#3 Long Journey to Juneau

Jesus was with me
in the dark,
stuffy lounge
of a slow ferry
headed for Juneau.

I sat in a spot
by a window
comforted by the warmth
radiating down
from a mandarin-colored lamp.

I took my shoes off,
stretched my legs out,
and let the soft seat
slowly absorb
my tired, jellied body.

I closed my eyes,
took a deep breath
and as I got comfy,
Drunken Man stumbled in,
slowly undressed,
rolled out his sleeping bag
on the floor next to me
and buried his wrinkly,
grubby face in a pillow.

Heady breathing,
worn dirty clothes,
old musty shoes
soon filled the air with an
awful, eye-burning odor.

Moments later,
cries of bored children
were followed by
the roaring of parents.

The loud, crackling sound
of large TV speakers
broke the short silence
soon after.

Surrounded and helpless,
I reached under my shirt
for a small,
golden necklace with a cross.

Jesus was with me
in a dark,
crowded lounge
on the slow ferry
headed for Juneau.