Robert

He first floated 

in amniotic fluid

on the Neusiedler See;

he was birthed 

into the sailing world,

his Opapa telling tales

of the merchant marine

Fleet of foot, 

he ran after school

to the swimming pool;

with his teammates, 

he dove into chlorine 

But the salt air 

filled his lungs

with contentment,

cementing his passion

to sail far 

and sail now

Through the North Sea, 

the Atlantic, Pacific, 

San Francisco Bay,

Gulf of Mexico,

the Mediterranean,

and Nootka Sound

Simply put,

he's more grounded 

when the sea is around him

and terra firma transforms

to a port on his charts,

with the wind in his face

and peace in his heart              

---

October 9, 2017