I saw you anchored
In summer
Just on the edge
Outside the shoal
Still shallow
Off Shear Pen Pond
Oscar in waders
Scratchin’ for hogs
I’ve seen your
Stern
In winter
Sputter
While you towed
For scallops
Dredges draining
On the rail
Oscar’s back
Hunched over the board
Culling the last haul
Wide
In Southwest rain gear
The bay
It seemed
Was made just for you
I followed
In my small
Leaky skiff
Towing drags
Humble
In your
Broad shadow
I watched
Your limit stowed
As you left
The pond
On windy days
How you’d head north
Into the swell
Toward Cape Cod
Then turn
And slide
Down the following sea
For the harbor
It seemed
You steered
Yourself
While Oscar washed
You down
I sold him paint
Each spring
To coat your bottom
Kirby red
From New Bedford
You looked so proud
Launched
Fresh painted
Your dog house hatch
Top hat cocked

Later
I saw Oscar
In the hospital
Before he died
We chatted
He seemed
Fine
But then he drifted off

Steve Gentle
Passed you on
Rebuilt
And back afloat
With spars and sail
Instead of drags
You looked so sharp
So new and light
It’s good to see you
Got up in your summer rig
As if the wind
Was made
To push you
Right along

Mark Alan Lovewell

Mark Alan Lovewell