A reading of my poem *Character*

(you can follow along with the words of the poem below)

Character
The shuffling line from dock to deck

Turns up the plank to ticket check.

Those early on the rails above

Wave wanly down to ones they love;

A long look down to ones they love.

Mark the ship, her lines and seams,

A welding of designer’s dreams

And builder’s craft—but is she true?

Or will she break against the blue?

How will she fare against the blue?

New captain there, high on the bridge;

A ship so large, his privilege.

It’s w...