Every time the Boatman leans
Against his pole and pushes
The water's solid floor—the pole
Turns into a newspaper hat.
The canal is littered with old news
Like the bleeding gray dye of a cheap
Sweater in the wash. Should I try
Pushing a boat with a paper hat
Or is motion more personal than that?
Sumi-e ink-wash drawing by Doug Heinlein © 2009
