Far Out

Like Stevie’s young man, 

I was too far out  

much too far out

and not waving

I didn’t want the attention

that waving would draw

to my foolishness

or precociousness

or my stubbornness

when I’d gone too far,

wouldn’t want to be judged

on my waywardness.

But I wasn’t drowning.

I had my mask 

and snorkel,

even a wet suit

of a homemade kind

so I just floundered

a bit

before

I found I could float,

and go with the flow

for a while

and then kick off 

against the current

in my own direction.

Sometimes I reached the safety

of the shore

and stayed close for a while

but only for a while,

only for a while

I stayed

too far out all my life

but not waving or drowning.

https://visualverse.org/submissions/far-out/