Ferry Crossing

Early in the morning the ferry sets out,
crossing the river as the sun rises,
a part of your childhood, this crossing,
a part long lost as you chose more certain roads
and bridges,
faster journeys, designed to reach destinations
as efficiently as possible.

But perhaps that has not been the wisest travel,
this rapid rush to places
without taking the time to stop and consider the journey,
to feel the river air brush your cheek
and watch the seagulls dance on the air.

And so you have returned,
less concerned with the crossing
than the waters around you.

About this poem

I had a chance to take the Jamestown Ferry yesterday as I made my way to Norfolk, Va. I used to cross the ferry a lot when I was young, and it was such a joy. Locals have mixed feelings about the ferry. It slows traffic between Surry and Jamestown. Many of them would rather have a bridge. But me? I’ll take the ferry.

Sometimes delays are good for us.

Tom