Spirit Boat

Four men in a boat

to the other side.

Four men in a boat:

only one has died;

the others are just

along for the ride.

Four men in a boat

brave the whale's roar.

Four men in a boat

reach the farthest shore.

The one steps off

and is seen no more.

Three men in a boat

brave the dark sea foam,

three men in a boat,

paddling back toward home

where the sun's still bright

under heaven's dome.

Three men from the boat

encircle a pyre.

Three men from the boat

watch the flames grow higher,

and memories dance

in the smoke and fire.

When I too must go

to my final place,

I will call three friends

to my last embrace,

in custom borrowed

from that distant race.

The three will come

to accompany me

across the darkness

of the inner sea

and return to keep

me in memory.

Keith Tornheim, June 2007