My Share of Looking

In a small boat
there were two people.

One
was rowing,

the other
was crouched low.

The oar
went into the water.

Pulled,

and went in again.

The boat
tilted to one side.

The one rowing
slowed his arms.

And

looked at the one beside him.

The bowed head
did not lift.

“Just a little more.”

He
looked ahead again.

This time

he pulled a little more slowly.

One stroke,
then a look to the side.

The next time

he looked to the side first,

then rowed.

I
watched those arms a long time.

I too

have had days when I could not lift my head.

On those days

someone

was looking
for my share as well.

Over the two of them

the same sunset came down.

The oar

came back low over the water.

The boat

carried the two of them on together.