Dawn comes in nine hours.
A few of the willow tree's roots
Reach out from the mud into the lake.
The dock reaches out from the tall grass
Out into the dark, still wet that
Will be water.

The dock carries me out to the boat.
The boat reaches towards the shore
By the loose rope clinging to the dock.

I get in the boat.
Lots of ripples run to the shore -
Very quiet ripples, I watch them go.
I take the rope.

I make the boat leave
The dock, The shore,
The grass, The mud,
To sit alone in the lake.

The stars are there.
The breeze touches the water
Making more quiet ripples that run to the shore.
The moon is there.
The clouds are there.

I cannot stay.
I tie the boat.
I look again at the wilow tree.
Still reaching out from the mud into the lake.
Dawn comes in two hours.