At Sea on Dry Land

from Field Stones
by Robert Kinsley

It's easy to get off course, starts with a little wind,
may be a few clouds forming on the horizon.  Nothing,

as they say, to get shook up about.   Later
some haze, a little rain.  When you look

over your shoulder, no land.  You notice
the gulls have stopped circling, are not

like you, can see a bad day coming.  So you should
have fixed the compass, so you should have fixed

a lot of things.  If this keeps up,
you think, you could be out here

a long time.  No telling, you say to no one
in particular, if and when you'll find your way home.