a shipmaster in love

a shipmaster in love

The boat that left at sunset didn't have red sails
but fading sunlight painted grey sail red
even though the vessel was not going to China 
not this year or any other year, the Oriental 
wanted to know why he lost two wives 
in, the short span of seven years
His third wife sees the boat disappear from 
the safety of her verandah she doesn't like 
a vessel moves and stays at home
She is secure, and pregnant, a feat his other wives 
managed, hence that's why he sold them to
a bordello in Tashkent
the boat is a brigantine made of Canadian wood
the timber has the habit of groaning when 
sails have no wind and days appear longer than
when a storm is brewing
The captain has a shopping list for his third wife 
gave him, about buying figs in Sumatra and 
coconuts in Congo, the captain smiles, his wife
 she has never seen a map