This Boat

I have missed a lot of boats.
Most of them I saw clearly
only when I looked
behind me.

Boats I coulda, shoulda, woulda boarded
and sailed away to some place
happier than here.

But I have only this boat. This houseboat,
this beat up leaky canoe, this something
or other called my life.

Lots of currents, lots of eddies, lots
of snags and lots of lovely scenery
passing by.

I am not in the scenery
because I am in the boat
wishing for better oars and hunting
the best place to land.

If you only land at the best places
and pass by all else
that might not be perfect,
you go forever
longing to at last land home.

I don’t know what it’s like
to go home, I just know
it’s not here.