A Talk

.

On a large boat
 
            in a clean room
 
                    with pleasant furnishings
                      wooden
                  and dark
he talks to the small
compact
          professional
woman
who is safe
and available
with even smile
and sympathetic words

until

it is time to walk away
                     into the outer room
                       which is larger

There is                                  
and has been always
on this vessel

an oppressive                                                         
wall                                                                              
to his left                                                                 

Now
                  with unaccustomed strength

his shoulders                                       
                                       and expanding thought
swing out

pushing
 
                        heavily            away the wall
as if it were made
of balsa

There is a vague                                                   
and distant fear
 
                     that he needs
the sides

to keep from drowning
but he wants
at least

the whole boat

.

.