Far Out

Like Stevie’s young man,
I was too far out
much too far out
and not waving
I didn’t want the attention
that waving would draw
to my foolishness
or precociousness
or my stubbornness
when I’d gone too far,
wouldn’t want to be judged
on my waywardness.
But I wasn’t drowning.
I had my mask
and snorkel,
even a wet suit
of a homemade kind
so I just floundered
a bit
before
I found I could float,
and go with the flow
for a while
and then kick off
against the current
in my own direction.

Far Out

Sometimes I reached the safety
of the shore
and stayed close for a while
but only for a while,
only for a while
I stayed
too far out all my life
but not waving or drowning.