The Dory Between Us
written by: Ash Douglas
those days we spent in the dory
barely a word was shared aloud
our language was unique to only us
on the nicest of days that were just for you and me
no sun, grey skies, grey ocean…with a hug of a fog
you had no idea but I loved watching you
in awe…
of my captain
my grandfather, only different
when I did, I felt safe and sound
adventurous…like your first mate
catching our bounty of fish for dear Theresa’s table
I remember when I spotted a porpoise and thought it was jaws
my little heart headed for the shore, my little body trapped at sea
though, my anxiety could not be heard
over the curse words you flung
like chum overboard attracting nothing but more bad luck
good luck drowned a slow death that eve
when the mist started to peck you conceded
that punt was not bringing us back
that punt made you row more days than not
this day was my turn to row back together
me up in the bow
like I was king of the world
you in the stern
spitting snot from your nose
like the worst day of yours
until we locked eyes and smiled
that’s what I liked about our time
it taught me that no matter how bad the day
as long as we were together it was already better
you showed me that life happens
as I stared down at the seabed along the bottom
at staggering crabs, old brown bottles, and broken seashells
as I watched the whitecaps break triangle waves from the boat
as you rowed and rowed around the last point
soon we were home
you could tell by the harbour
how it opened and then closed
welcoming us back
saving us from all that bad luck
saving you from more words to keep you from heaven
but now that you’re there
I realized those whitecaps stored it all for me
when I see them now
I relive over and over…the dory of our lives
- From These Tulips - October 17, 2025
- The Dory Between Us - July 24, 2025
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