Daver Austin Poet I do not know?

Boatman

There is a misty hanging over the lake
A line of pollen    colorless in the smoke    lapping the bank
With things    those outlined    unreachable
    against the far    far shore
Needle outlines    pines    roof of an old tool shed
    ghostly    wondering    within
Eyes    imagined yellow    peering    red    wet
    tongues hanging
This the very sort of day to set one odd-dreaming
There is a quiet    distant music sounding    then
A faint ripple    distant plash awakens vision
I cannot see    but hear the musical dipping of oars

"Hey!    Boatman!" I yell into the gloom
"Hey!    Boatman!    How deep?"    no reply
"Would I wade out?    Is there an undertow?    Would I sink
    only make a pin-point entry    be lost eternally?"
    I laugh    No reply
Still the steady dipping    now growing near    now far
    the steady dipping to a heartbeat      maddening!
         to think he might appear at any moment
    dreaming to the quiet    eerie music    and on
                  and on
"Apparition!    Won't you speak?    I've watched    
    listened for hours it seems
                  then
A breeze    at last    cuts the gloom
My vision starts!
There is no one out there
"Hey!    Boatman!
Where?"

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Michelle Mac Donald May 20, 2011 at 5:37 PM Ohhhh...I think this mysterious boatman must have sailed off with Mary Jane.:( I'll search again tomorrow..sighhh Nothing nebulous about this write, aside from that boatman. Truly enjoying this write...a keeper for me, Daver! Bon soir, Love, Mikki

Andrea Dietrich May 8, 2010 at 7:38 AM Very interesting atmosphere this one. I am imagining the mythical boatman who takes us to our death. Daver, why do you say you are an amatuer? you put most of the writers here to shame! LUv, andrea

November 17, 2008 at 12:20 PM Nice use of imagery and conversation. I like the eerie feel of this one. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us and for your kind words regarding my haiku. Have a nice day! Karen

Sharon Winter July 22, 2008 at 11:15 AM Creepy good. Loved the gloomy, foggy imagery. Makes me want to go finish reading my new Stephen King Book. : ) Daver, please do not feel you need to go back to my old poems! Not necessary! Keep writing, enjoy your poetry very much. Love, Shar

Nicholas Westerhausen July 22, 2008 at 10:13 AM I think it is a shape poem. You were going for the shape of a boat, right? That's what I saw. Also, I loved the poem. It speaks to something within everyone I think.