Voice Above the Waves

I have avoided reading
  What they wrote about you
Knowing this time you will die

Who was content to live in spirit
  Come back as ghost
I think we spoke in tongues

Madness of love elated, known deeply
  My heart again, again
As it must repeat for you, for me

I know I will open the word
  Listen to the voice on the water
Pushing off from shore

Were you ever really there?
  Your friends’ small boat
Pale wedge on twilight ripples

Smoothed in dark lapping dreams
  Hard to make out
Drifting to the far side

You must be the one
Asleep—astern
Far from the prow.