• A HUNDRED FEET FROM SHORE
    by UC Poika


    strong winds forecast a coming thunderstorm
    a small cloud lowers the horizon line
    waves hit the boat trying to come aboard
    like scavengers searching only for what’s to find,
    tourists, fishermen, amateurs forewarned
    of the hazard lightening, wind and rain defines
    panicky sell their life preservers short
    and turning white look like they’ve lost two pints
    of blood as they become religious nuts
    and begin to pray like televised experts
    and trying to find the courage, grit or pluck
    to come out alive they promise God the works
    but what they never seem to have realized
    is it’d only be to their chests even if they did capsize.