Lucille Clifton: "Blessing the Boats"

(at St. Mary's)

may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back      may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that


 

"Blessing the Boats" by Lucille Clifton, from The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton. © BOA Editions, 1991.

Image credit: "Blessing of the Tuna Fleet at Groix," oil on canvas, by Paul Signac (1923, originally color).