ponjol
--
a humble vessel
it was
tethered to the shore
witnessing many
a tide roll
in and out
and the sun and the moon
playing tag
on hot days
it would
take us mid-river
where it would await
our exhausted limbs
clambering in
for a breather
before shepherding us back
it taught us
to snare larger fish
a rite of passage
the water an ally
of what we pursued
in our hands
a line called “laamaar”
it taught us to
have a feel
for the unseen tug
from below
it taught us to deal
with failure
and not mind the sun beating down
be grateful for the
cool the wind brought
and mindful of
the distracting ripples
as the wind played
with the sun
it taught us to be humble
of the river mighty
and to take just
what we need
I believe it was built
intentionally small
just so that we understood
on moon soaked nights
it taught us to listen
to the silence around
and to the wind rustling
among the coconut trees
on the shore
occasionally a song
would waft through
sometimes Alfred Rose
sometimes Lorna
would keep us all company
