the second mate
heard steps on the creosote pier
it was six bells on
what would have been the midwatch
on the ketch;
all hands were on liberty;
 the mate was the only soul on board;
the steps continued up the gangway,
across the quarterdeck
to the hatch of the mate’s stateroom;
there were several knocks on the hatch;
the mate did not go to the hatch;
the mate didn’t open it:
“you can’t come in;
“i’m not ready to go;
i have things yet to do,
places to see,
people to meet,
and
i must sail several more seas.
the mate heard steps again
but
they were fading across the deck;
the mate heard them leaving,
walking down the gangway
and
off the pier.
the mate breathed a sigh of relief:
in a fortnight, the ketch
would go to sea again.