Old Yacht

She is moored
at the edge of the deep.
A little shabby –
reminds me of an eccentric aunt.

She tells herself she doesn’t need
the company of the others
in the marina.
Besides, death is
preferable to shiny
well kept craft.

And she knows
she’d never be eligible
for a private berth – few are.
Why else are two thirds of them empty?
And who’d want to be tied up
in such an ugly place
with only rocks, houses
and dirty water to look at.

She’s better off
away from it all
braving nature’s wildest weather.

Even in the gales she’s not alone –
her former owner still checks on her.

Tarla Kramer Lives in Quorn in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. She has recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Arts (Creative Writing) at Tabor. More about her and her work can be found on the net on her Smashwords site.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.