On the launching of a boat; in honor of the sloop Optomystic
We pray for wind
but not too much
more than a breeze
cut less than a sou'wester
having been in harbor
for less than a year
the caulking is done
the brightwork painted
the varnish redone
the sails bent
she's a beauty
I've looked at her a thousand times
probably more
and wondered how she'd heel
how she would do against her
port harbor mate Taber
tomorrow will tell
as sailors sip champagne
not smash against the bow
a terrible waste of Piper Heidsick
how many ships have set out
form Snow's shipyard
where this boat is so kindly placed
as a kid I played here
in the lumber yard
for the boats built
for the war and fishing
so much has changed, so little
sometimes we complain
of the view being blocked
but we wanted hulls and masts
that have shared the coast with lime
of East Thomaston
since 1975
long after all of us have gone
the harbor will be here between
Rockland and Owls Head
and we hope there will be other sailors
preparing vessels large and small
for the summer cruises
that bring us closer to the salt
from which we came
eons and eons ago
so when you see this charmer
headed out past the Rockland light
send out a little prayer
that she returns safely
with all the crew
and does so for thousands of years
