On The Hurricane Deck

On the hurricane deck
Of the Spirit of America
Staten Island ferry
Departing St. George's
Bright sun on the Inner Harbor____
I've taken this ferry
Hundreds of time
Mostly to see a good friend
Dr. Nepola
We go back to 1970
I left him in Berkeley
Telegraph Avenue
1973
Got a ride in a Ford Pinto
East
With Marilyn
A single mom
With her daughter in the back
That night
We made love in the Bonneville Salt Flats
She dropped me in Cheyenne___
I haven't stepped foot
On America
This year
Does Jersey City count?___
Neil and I are still friends
I called him on the crossing
No answer
I came I saw I turned around___
Hundreds of trips to Staten Island
This time I thought there might be ice
Last time the harbor froze over
2017
Not today
A crew member said,
"Was some last week by the Battery."
His accent pure Staten Island___
Same as Dr. Nepola
He and I still talk about that trip
Across America___
I am an American
Irish too
The passengers mostly tourists
From scores of lands
Their accents
From far from here
Their smiles
Happy to be here___
On a cool January afternoon
Crossing the Inner Harbor
The Verrazano Bridge spanning the Narrows
Brooklyn docks to the East
Statute of Liberty
Always welcoming the poor
America beyond
The Salt Flats so far away
With Manhattan to the north
Full speed ahead___