Night Watch

like you, I have spent dark nights

searching the black waters for the body of a lover

sunken in their own abyss 

dragging the impossibly heavy nets

over and over

until my hands can’t hold on any more

I have seen other boats pass me in the dark

seen the desperate faces of children, lovers, parents

their eyes straining into the depths

red-rimmed from sleeplessness 

hands worn out by dragging nights

and days of mending and holding on

we are the reachers-down

the ones who keep pulling after the sun sinks

and sometimes, when we drift alongside 

you flash a wink 

and I know you will keep going

so long as there are stars to see by

we have the night watch