I’ve got this dream
you’ll see
a wanting
deep within me
always there
like a past life thingy
and yet put on hold
until the time
where it will
find fulfillment
but I do have
a great imagination
I want to sail
yep, at least
a 40’ Catamaran
all the way
from Boston, MA
to Leland, MI
this dream to me
seems possible
although
some think different
and I must admit
it is a little insane
to say the least
especially if
the waters rise
the weather
worsens
due to
climate change
as predicted
by science
I’d have to leave
Boston harbor
passing the ship
U.S. Constitution
sail around Nova Scotia
Cape Breton
once home to the
inventor named Bell
and if I had my wish
could pick
the day and time
the place
I would die
it would be
right off
the best kept secret
on the Cabot Trail
Meat Cove
then I’d go down
the well traveled
St. Lawrence Seaway
toward Quebec
and Montreal
and then it’s said
the best of sailors
have been tested
by the locks
full of tankers
and the canals
as well as,
the changing
weather of
lake Ontario
if you get past
Niagara Falls
near Buffalo, NY
let’s not forget
sailing across
lake Erie,
then north up
the Detroit river
past the
Rouge river
where my
schoolmate Jimmy
and I worked at
Ford Motor Company
a year and half ago
he passed away
oh how I miss him dearly
and I think of when
he lived in
Allen Park
the city
with one of my most
influential muses
as a poet
RLF
she now fights
the battle
against MS
as I sailed by
gently I’d wave
off in a distance
at the two houses
I owned
in Farmington
and Farmington Hills
homes where I lived
for about 15 years
with my ex-wife
and three children
after which
I’d sail on
into lake Huron
towards the thumb
past the land areas
in Michigan
and Canada
the country
my children’s ancestors
are from
on their mother’s side
of the family
how I miss
my in-laws
Papa G
and Mickey …..
my family has lived
in counties named
Saginaw
and
Midland
where my ex-wife
gave birth to our son
and Bay City
the town,
my best friend
in high school now lives
with his wife
the singer Madonna
was born there
who my girlfriend
went to high school with
back towards Pontiac
in Rochester
as I sailed on
turning to the west
I’d blow a gentle kiss
to my hometown
Freeland
still to this day
my mom and siblings
live nearby
my dad has passed away
I am so glad
him and I
worked things out
as father and son
in my forties
this is also a place
filled with memories
about classmates
old friends
with names like Alan
Larry
Donny
Bruce
Mike
my baseball team
Band of Brothers
and a Sister
I call Bertie
all I’ve stayed
in touch with
through the years
along with my 2nd family
the Pingel’s
love you tons
Mert and Fran
Linda and Dolly
including your
pain in the ass brother
I previously mentioned
and the daughter
of my dad’s best friend Ray
Susie …. my eternal sister
I love her dearly ~
boy do I remember
my childhood
sweetheart
CAM
the girl
that turned into
a beautiful woman
and mother
I will always love
eventually I’d reach
the windy
Straits of Mackinac
where thousands
of shipwrecks
boats both
big and small
have sunken to
a watery fate
deep down
at the water’s bottom
I’d sail under
Mighty Mac
that bridge my
iron-worker relatives
helped to construct
and where my cuz David
attends regularly
the iron-worker games
if that weren’t enough
the fun I’ve dream of
ahead
in lake Michigan
is about to being
along my way
to the east
I’d think inland
to Alanson
and the Crooked River
the place where
my father’s parents
owned a cottage
during my
childhood days
and what child
could ever forget
the drive-in there
with the polar bear
in the glass case
an the racing boats
flying down the river
the noise hurting my ears
suddenly
as I slip on by
the mouth of
Grand Traverse Bay
I’d see before me
the Leelanau Peninsula
and soon thereafter
the Leland Marina
my destination
ever since
I left Boston
awhile ago
instantly
my mouth waters
for white fish
15 year old scotch
down at
that place
my love and I
once ate
if still there
called the Cove
but first I’ll call
my loved ones
back in Mass
and tell them
I’ve finally made it
and I’ll fly home soon
’cause my muses in NYC
Regina
and KAP
flood back into my mind
as well as my publisher
and fellow artist
“just Bill” in Jersey
my activist friend Eberhardt
and the spirit
of my comrade Dino
my artist friend Andrew
in and around Baltimore
all calling me
back to action
but before then
I’ll call an old friend
in Traverse City
to help me celebrate
because, after all
I’ve got this dream
you’ll see
peace out
Words by ~Keith Alan Hamilton~
