Our Midnight Cruise On The Chesapeake Bay

[apoetwholovestosing]

Sailing At Midnight,
Skyline fading in evening haze,
The air is warm and still.
Music wails in the sweltering heat - and
No one brave enought to dance
Although the beat is good.
Baltimore, we hail your flickering lights in the
Distance as we graduate toward your land marks...
Ft. McHenry first - we salute you!
Bouys flash caution while smoke and night
Darken the sky...
Waves whisper as we cruise - no air to prod them
On to loud conversation!
Baltimore skyline,
Shadows etched in dark and light harmony.
No breeze, echoes the crowd...but light laughter makes
The evening sweet.
Card players top side... slap -slap...
No other motion in that corner.
Wind indicator tells a sad tale but we trail
The water path gallantly, waving at the
Silhouettes of independent boaters.
Baltimore, we approach your newness in mortar and steel,
The "Leg of 695" someone says.
I had the urge to sing The Star Spangled Banner...The Francis
Scott Key Bridge so magnificentlly beautiful before us,
Like a giant erector set.
We cruise under and everyone becomes historian,
Tour lecturers from every corner.
"Fragile beauty!" one gent exclaimed.
A coast guard cutter coursed behind us in the
Gentle waters...Its whistle bade us "Hello!"
Baltimore, you beautiful, beautiful lady.
Tonight we love you still - though you've bottled
Your air elsewhere...
Perhaps in the city streets.
A speed boat turns to follow and tease us.
He has conquered air, water and sky with his freedom.
Ft. Carroll - electronic day light in our focus.
Then,
Sparrows Point!
We turn and
At last,
A breeze!
We capture it in the grab bags of our lungs,
Heading home!

Dorothy Alves Holmes
A Poet Who Loves To Sing
1970

[Stella]

A delightful cruise Dorothy...

[antoine]

wow, so many sights and such vivid images - giant erector sets, cheeky speedboats, whispering waves, electric daylight at the brightly lit coastal towns. The reader was taken and experienced the cruise and rolled our eyes at the historians coming out of the woodwork and enjoyed the relief of the fresh air at the turn.
this is pure delight

[Cindy]

That sounds like one beautiful night. Your poem makes it sound so fascinating. And I so love the last four lines.

[Sandra Martyres]

Both fascinTing and interesting Dorothy. You capture the reader's imagination all through this poetic journey

[Tom Balch]

Wonderful imagery as we cruise through the lines of this lovely poem, Dorothy.