a shipmaster in love

a shipmaster in love The boat that left at sunset didn't have red sails but fading sunlight painted grey sail red even though the vessel was not going to China  not this year or any other year, the Oriental  wanted to know why he lost two wives  in, the short span of seven years His third wife sees the boat disappear from  the safety of her verandah she doesn't like  a vessel moves and stays at home She is secure, and pregnant, a feat his other wives  managed, hence that's why he sold them to a bordello in Tashkent the boat is a brigantine made of Canadian wood the timber has the habit of groaning when  sails have no wind and days appear longer than when a storm is brewing The captain has a shopping list for his third wife  gave him, about buying figs in Sumatra and  coconuts in Congo, the captain smiles, his wife she has never seen a map